I was discussing the challenges of dealing with young children with a preschool teacher once, when this idea popped into my head. I've since used it to explain how we get lost in our own perception, and forget that everyone is looking from there own perspective.
But it's deeper than just the angle from which we see the world. There are layers, much like an ogre, that represent context, experience, knowledge, as well as a lack of any or all of those. Here's how I explain it.
When my young son would be upset because life is hard, his crayon broke, he didn't want his mac'n cheez thick and creamy, or he wasn't getting his way, it was easy as an adult to feel like (and even say), it's really not that big a deal. You'll have other times to play that game. We'll make mac'n cheez again some other time. If you're going to get that upset, we don't have to color with crayons.
It all sounds horribly mean now. But I'm a tired parent. I work hard. It's late. I have things to do around the house still, and he still hasn't taken his bath. "One day, when you have responsibilities, you'll look back and realize this was nothing to be this upset over."
That's the book of life. They don't realize that, at the grand old age of 4, they are only working through their 5th chapter of their book of life. I'm on chapter 47 for goodness sake. Just wait! They have so much more to experience, this won't even be a blip on their radar.
And, that's true later in life. They may never even remember that moment. We're not wrong. But...we're not right. It's not about us, and it's certainly not about comparing where we are in our book to theirs... it's like they haven't even started...
That's the part we're missing. As much as we have 40 - 50 chapters behind us, and we're only half way!, it's just the oposite for them.
They may only be 4 1/2 chapters into their book...but... that's their ENTIRE book to that point! Their whole life fits within those pages. AN ENTIRE LIFE has existed in less than 5 chapters. So, yes... that little blip - it's HUGE for them. It takes up a much larger percent of their life, their time on earth, their pages, and the have no possible understanding what 40 chapters are. Everything they have evern been or known is within those 4 chapters.
So as much as we want to help them put things in perspective, it's really us, the adults, that need to put things in perspective. Because who likes to hear, what you feel is really nothing. It's insignificant. You're overreacting. Just calm down. Let alone from the one or two people in the world that are your world...