--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As I say so often, “Observe and wait.”…" description: "\"As I say so often, “Observe and wait.” Sometimes you may even find out that what you believed the infant wanted was only your assumption. It is natural..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/363/magda-gerber-17618_assumption_as-i-say-so-often-observe-and-wait-somet_2021036.jpg" --- # As I say so often, “Observe and wait.” Sometimes you may… ![“As I say so often, “Observe and wait.” Sometimes you may even find out that what you believed the infant wanted was only your assumption. It is natural to make mistakes and easy to misunderstand pre-verbal children. Nevertheless, it is important to keep trying” quote by Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/363/magda-gerber-17618_assumption_as-i-say-so-often-observe-and-wait-somet_2021036.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/363/magda-gerber-17618_assumption_as-i-say-so-often-observe-and-wait-somet_2021036.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/363/magda-gerber-17618_assumption_as-i-say-so-often-observe-and-wait-somet_2021036.jpg) > “As I say so often, “Observe and wait.” Sometimes you may even find out that what you believed the infant wanted was only your assumption. It is natural to make mistakes and easy to misunderstand pre-verbal children. Nevertheless, it is important to keep trying” [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Parents should observe children without assumptions, recognizing that infants cannot verbalize needs, and persist despite misunderstandings. **In simple terms:** Watch and listen to children, avoid assumptions. Key Takeaway Practice patient observation. Themes parenting communication mindfulness Mood reflective calm Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - infant care - early education - parent‑child bonding Key Concepts developmental psychology attachment theory nonverbal cues Questions to Reflect On - What signs might you be missing? - How can you verify your interpretations? A Different Perspective Assumptions can still lead to misinterpretation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumption/) [Believed Infant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believed-infant-3661756/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Infant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infant/) [Keep trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keep-trying/) [Making mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-mistakes/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Misunderstand Pre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misunderstand-pre-3661757/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Nevertheless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nevertheless/) [Say Observe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-observe-3661758/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Verbal Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/verbal-children-3661759/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Wanted Assumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-assumption-3661760/) ## Related quotes > [U'll never get to know me by what people say about me but by what you observe by moving closer to me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usman-ismaheel/u-ll-never-get-to-know-me-by-what-people-say-about-me-but-by-what-you/) [Usman Ismaheel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usman-ismaheel/) > [I used to listen to what others said, and expect them to act accordingly. But nowadays, I listen to what they say, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/i-used-to-listen-to-what-others-said-and-expect-them-to-act/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Become a traveller and call life your journey. Don't need to stop or put effort to say yours. Observe, learn , Appreciate and move ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/become-a-traveller-and-call-life-your-journey-don-t-need-to-stop-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If infants are ready to do something, they will do it. In fact, when they are ready, they have to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/if-infants-are-ready-to-do-something-they-will-do-it-in-fact-when/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [RIE emphasizes the benefits of infants spending peaceful, uninterrupted time following their biological rhythms of falling asleep when sleepy and eating when hungry, rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/rie-emphasizes-the-benefits-of-infants-spending-peaceful/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [I have spent my adult life trying to figure out why parents and society put themselves into a race -- what's the hurry? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/i-have-spent-my-adult-life-trying-to-figure-out-why-parents-and/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [We not only respect babies, we demonstrate our respect every time we interact with them. Respecting a child means treating even the youngest infant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/we-not-only-respect-babies-we-demonstrate-our-respect-every-time-we/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [When you hold an infant, hold him not just with your body, but with your mind and heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/when-you-hold-an-infant-hold-him-not-just-with-your-body-but-with/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [What infants need is the opportunity and time to take in and figure out the world around them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/what-infants-need-is-the-opportunity-and-time-to-take-in-and-figure/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [By closely supervising our infants, by allowing them to do what they are capable of, by restraining ourselves from rescuing them too often, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/by-closely-supervising-our-infants-by-allowing-them-to-do-what-they/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [An infant always learns. The less we interfere with the natural process of learning, the more we can observe how much infants learn all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/an-infant-always-learns-the-less-we-interfere-with-the-natural/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [It is this one Spirit who makes it possible for an infant to be regenerated . . . when that infant is brought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/it-is-this-one-spirit-who-makes-it-possible-for-an-infant-to-be/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Soothing touch, whether it be applied to a ruffled cat, a crying infant, or a frightened child, has a universally recognized power to ameliorate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deane-juhan/soothing-touch-whether-it-be-applied-to-a-ruffled-cat-a-crying-infant/) [Deane Juhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deane-juhan/) > [As a designer, everything is always about aesthetics mixed in with functionality and having that visual appeal. But you learn fast as a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/as-a-designer-everything-is-always-about-aesthetics-mixed-in-with/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [The wailing of the newborn infant is mingled with the dirge for the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/the-wailing-of-the-newborn-infant-is-mingled-with-the-dirge-for-the/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) ## More by Magda Gerber > [I wish children could grow according to their natural pace: sleep when sleepy, wake up when rested, eat when hungry, cry when upset, play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/i-wish-children-could-grow-according-to-their-natural-pace-sleep-when/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [Childhood is not a race to see how quickly a child can read, write and count. It is a small window of time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/childhood-is-not-a-race-to-see-how-quickly-a-child-can-read-write-and/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [An infant always learns. The less we interfere with the natural process of learning, the more we can observe how much infants learn all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/an-infant-always-learns-the-less-we-interfere-with-the-natural/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [By closely supervising our infants, by allowing them to do what they are capable of, by restraining ourselves from rescuing them too often, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/by-closely-supervising-our-infants-by-allowing-them-to-do-what-they/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [What infants need is the opportunity and time to take in and figure out the world around them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/what-infants-need-is-the-opportunity-and-time-to-take-in-and-figure/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [All children accomplish milestones in their own way, in their own time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/all-children-accomplish-milestones-in-their-own-way-in-their-own-time/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [Every baby moves with more ease and efficiency if allowed to do it at his own time and in his own way, without our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/every-baby-moves-with-more-ease-and-efficiency-if-allowed-to-do-it-at/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [When you approach your baby with an attitude of respect, you let him know what you intend to do and give him a chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/when-you-approach-your-baby-with-an-attitude-of-respect-you-let-him/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [When you hold an infant, hold him not just with your body, but with your mind and heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/when-you-hold-an-infant-hold-him-not-just-with-your-body-but-with/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [Much harm has been done in the name of love, but no harm can be done in the name of respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/much-harm-has-been-done-in-the-name-of-love-but-no-harm-can-be-done/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [Remember, nobody can make another person fall asleep. How to relax and let sleep come is a skill your child, like everybody else, must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/remember-nobody-can-make-another-person-fall-asleep-how-to-relax-and/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [The more we do, the busier we are, the less we really pay attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/the-more-we-do-the-busier-we-are-the-less-we-really-pay-attention/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [“If one were to list all the cruelties and maltreatments, both physical and emotional, that parents and adults inflict on children under the guise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/if-one-were-to-list-all-the-cruelties-and-maltreatments-both-physical/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [We not only respect babies, we demonstrate our respect every time we interact with them. Respecting a child means treating even the youngest infant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/we-not-only-respect-babies-we-demonstrate-our-respect-every-time-we/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [Allow the child to be authentic, to move, to feel the way they move, appreciating them for what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/allow-the-child-to-be-authentic-to-move-to-feel-the-way-they-move/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) [Explore all 36 Magda Gerber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) ## More Assumption quotes > [Next to the assumption of power was the responsibility of relinquishing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/next-to-the-assumption-of-power-was-the-responsibility-of/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [It's difficult for people to come to the understanding that only a small minority of the people ever really get the word about life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/it-s-difficult-for-people-to-come-to-the-understanding-that-only-a/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [Much like teaching art to young art students age 10 to 15 or so on, you have to break it down into bite-sized pieces,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/much-like-teaching-art-to-young-art-students-age-10-to-15-or-so-on/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [Neither novels or their readers benefit from any attempts to divine whether any facts hide inside a story. Such efforts attack the very idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/neither-novels-or-their-readers-benefit-from-any-attempts-to-divine/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [The risk of developing carcinoma of the lung increases steadily as the amount smoked increases. If the risk among non-smokers is taken as unity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-doll/the-risk-of-developing-carcinoma-of-the-lung-increases-steadily-as/) [Richard Doll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-doll/) > [Fortunately, the mind is restless; when it uncovers a layer of its own deception, gives up an illusion, exposes a lie, it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-chernin/fortunately-the-mind-is-restless-when-it-uncovers-a-layer-of-its-own/) [Kim Chernin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-chernin/) > [The possibility of saying anything about a thing rests on the assumption that it preserves its identity, or continues to be the same thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-knight/the-possibility-of-saying-anything-about-a-thing-rests-on-the/) [Frank Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-knight/) > [She spent hours drawing on her own, trying to perfect her craft. And when she got into music, she had that same diligence in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-joplin/she-spent-hours-drawing-on-her-own-trying-to-perfect-her-craft-and/) [Laura Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-joplin/) > [If they are, then the only ultimate truths are the particulars of concrete experience, and no postulate or general assumption is inherent in science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-wright/if-they-are-then-the-only-ultimate-truths-are-the-particulars-of/) [Chauncey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-wright/) > [If he's - the inference is that somehow he thinks slavery is a - is a noble institution I would - I would strongly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-he-s-the-inference-is-that-somehow-he-thinks-slavery-is-a-is-a/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Leadership, pure and simple, is the assumption of responsibility for the pursuit of excellence in group life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-selznick/leadership-pure-and-simple-is-the-assumption-of-responsibility-for/) [Philip Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-selznick/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. Humans assume that alien life forms should conform to standards that match our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-perry/humans-suffer-from-self-centred-notions-as-to-the-nature-of-life/) [Steve Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-perry/) > [When I see a fan coming over, I can't help but make an assumption about what they want to talk about. A middle-aged American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-dormer/when-i-see-a-fan-coming-over-i-can-t-help-but-make-an-assumption/) [Natalie Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-dormer/) > [The Bell curve is a fact of life. The blacks on average score 85 per cent on IQ and it is accurate, nothing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/the-bell-curve-is-a-fact-of-life-the-blacks-on-average-score-85-per/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [Pussy Riot have certainly changed some people's assumptions about the role of political art and the relationship between the intelligentsia and the church. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/pussy-riot-have-certainly-changed-some-people-s-assumptions-about-the/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) [Browse all 1,277 Assumption quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumption/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As I say so often, “Observe and wait.” Sometimes you may even find out that what you believed the infant wanted was only your assumption. It is natural to make mistakes and easy to misunderstand pre-verbal children. Nevertheless, it is important to keep trying", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Magda Gerber" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/as-i-say-so-often-observe-and-wait-sometimes-you-may-even-find-out/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Assumption" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/as-i-say-so-often-observe-and-wait-sometimes-you-may-even-find-out/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/363/magda-gerber-17618_assumption_as-i-say-so-often-observe-and-wait-somet_2021036.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/363/magda-gerber-17618_assumption_as-i-say-so-often-observe-and-wait-somet_2021036.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/363/magda-gerber-17618_assumption_as-i-say-so-often-observe-and-wait-somet_2021036.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As I say so often, “Observe and wait.” Sometimes you may even find out that what you believed the infant…” — Magda Gerber", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Magda Gerber", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As I say so often, “Observe...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/as-i-say-so-often-observe-and-wait-sometimes-you-may-even-find-out/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/as-i-say-so-often-observe-and-wait-sometimes-you-may-even-find-out/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```