How many of us have experienced déjà vu, that delightfully eerie sense of familiarity, like your life is a slightly glitchy rerun. Whether while talking with someone, suddenly feeling like you've had this exact conversation before or watching a movie where a scene feels incredibly familiar, even though you know you've never seen the movie before, it’s a common experience. I’d wager a vast majority of people have been there.
But what about jamais vu (pronounced ja-may voo), deja vu’s its mirror cousin? Imagine staring at your own name on a form; you’ve written it a million times before and suddenly, it looks like a bizarre alien hieroglyph. "Is that even a word?" you wonder, as experiential dread sets in. It's the familiar turning utterly foreign, like your brain decided to throw a surprise identity crisis.
As parents we may not be aware of the many times in a day, week or year that jamais vu enters our frame of existence. How many parents have experienced this? A lanky creature with your son's face shuffles through the kitchen. Absentmindedly he opens the fridge, stands there for precisely 47 seconds, closes it without retrieving anything and then looks at you with eyes that seem to belong to someone else. You look at this suddenly unfamiliar, almost grown man and ask yourself is this really the same child who used to wear superhero undies and cry if his sandwich was cut diagonally instead of straight. Your baby boy: bundle of enthusiasm, dimples and messy hair is without warning a walking existential crisis with size eleven shoes and a voice that could potentially summon whales from distant oceans.
And if you feel this is confusing for us as parents then for your young man, I wager it’s equally so. Growing up is fundamentally a continuous process of not recognising yourself. You wake up in the morning, way too early for your liking, and you’re standing there, toothbrush hanging limply from your mouth, staring at a face that looks simultaneously familiar and yet, completely foreign. One moment you're a child believing the world is a playground, the next, you're a quasi-adult wondering if doing the washing up counts as a personality trait.
Over the past few days I’ve had the great privilege of attending our Year 12 Retreat at the Watson Park Convention Centre; time where all our Year 12 Eddies Men have the chance to take a couple of days to slow down and reflect on who they are, on their values and on their future.
At a pivotal point of identity formation, retreats can create a structured, supportive space for self-reflection that is rarely available in daily life. By removing typical distractions—social media, academic pressures, family dynamics—young people can:
- Examine their core values without external influences
- Explore personal beliefs and emerging worldviews
- Develop a more nuanced understanding of their emotional landscape
- Practise gratitude, mindfulness and self-awareness
The culminating activity of our retreat allows parents to join their sons at St Mary’s Church for a final liturgy.
If déjà vu is "I've been here, haven't I?" and jamais vu is "Wait, what IS here?" then a gentle nudge every now and then assists to consolidate. Between ages 17-18, young people stand at a developmental crossroads. I hope this opportunity has given our Eddies Men the space to access their ever-emerging cognitive capabilities, self-reflect and move on to a productive settled few months as they navigate the rest of their final year.
Year 6 Camp
If you have a look at recent Facebook posts, you will see evidence of the action-packed days that were Year 6 Camp. I’m reliably informed that much fun and learning took place. Sincere apologies to anyone who has the responsibility for cleaning the mud-sodden clothing that hopefully returns from Kenilworth.
Parking Cameras
To ensure safety in the area the Ipswich City Council will be installing parking cameras over the coming break. There will be signs advising that cameras are in operation. Please be aware of these and abide by Council regulations. Further information can be found by clicking on the link below.
