Thomas Alva Edison was born on February 11, 1847 in Milan, Ohio. He was enrolled in the lower primary school in Port Huron, Michigan. Upon being belittled by his teacher, Edison stormed out of the school. The next day his mother took little Edison to the school, which led to an angry confrontation with the teacher. Consequently, Edison dropped out of formal schooling just three months after he began. Even his own classmates did not understand him. Nancy Edison, a teacher herself, took it upon herself to educate him at home. 

Edison received a far better education than most, not because his mother was a teacher. Nancy had taught at school but only for a short time. Neither were his parents rich. The secret was that Nancy was far more dedicated to her task than other teachers. Her devotedness and observation led her to flexibly experiment with different approaches to nurturing her son.

She was extra kind and sympathetic and never forceful. Her son picked up all the lessons and subjects excellently well. The teacher saw the child only with her eyes, but the mother saw her son with her mind, and it made all the difference. As a little boy, Thomas took up miscellaneous works around the neighborhood, such as selling newspapers etc. He grew up to be an excellent teenager. His mind was highly creative. The places he loved were the library and his work room. With his mother’s guidance, Edison not only excelled but became a creative force, inventing the light bulb and more.

A similar story unfolds in the life of Albert Einstein. He was unable to speak until he reached the age of two. However, it appeared to his mother that he understood everything. It’s true that he was not outstanding in the primary school, but he did excel at Mathematics and Science. He was then enrolled at Luitpold Gymnasium in 1887. The atmosphere there was very rigid, focused on rote learning. The teachers were not able to see Albert and his ways. They could not see him sympathetically. He used to question his teachers on topics which they were not even able to grasp. Frustrated, at fifteen years of age, he decided to educate himself. 

Pauline Einstein was a well-educated woman with a disposition to arts. She made Albert take up violin lessons at the age of five. She was characteristically patient. She cultivated in him a tendency to focus on completing tasks. Albert’s mother saw him with heart and mind. Albert went on to become a great philosopher and scientist.

The narratives of these great lives remind us that true understanding does not come from merely observing with our eyes, but by seeing with our minds. Embracing empathy allows us to appreciate the depth and potential within each individual.