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| Sunset over Barton Mountain |
The directors of our schools are licensed clinical therapists. One director that we had said something that I will never forgotten.
"Children, whatever they are doing,
are always doing their best."
Whenever I am frustrated, or want to walk away from behaviors, I remember this. If a child is cursing at me, screaming, or throwing things: that is her best. That is her strategy to survive a moment. Right or wrong, the strategy has served her well in her past. Something triggered the outburst, and as the trained professional, I need to honor that without letting her think it is acceptable. I need to help her learn new strategies and help her feel safe.
If you mumble this to yourself often enough, you begin to live it. You stop arguing with children and you have options: back off until the tension is less volatile, talk to the child . . . there are numerous ways to deal with these situations. You begin to have choices and stop reacting.
As a personal note, I am now applying it to all interactions: with family members, strangers in a store, even my cat and dog. We all are doing our best, whether it is misguided or not. Hopefully, with somebody else's compassion, we can all learn new strategies to deal more successfully with life events.
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| More Monday Sparks |
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It must be difficult challenge to be a teacher today. I am old, I remember my discipline by the nuns was a wood ruler on the back of the hand. The boys got a wood paddle on the bee-hind. Neither I'd want to think were being used today.
ReplyDeleteGratefully, most states disallow corporal punishment anymore. It's past time for it to be gone. Thank you, Lynn.
DeleteThese days teachers have to use different approach in teaching children. Patience and understanding plays an important part.
ReplyDeleteStunning sunset.
ReplyDeleteThese days, parents and teachers need different approach in relating to children.
ReplyDeleteThe perfect Spark. I'll do what you're doing. It makes tons of sense.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day and week. ♥
Good insight. It's hard to not exploding when kid acts disrespectful and inappropriately. The key for the "adult" is to count to 10, maybe 30 before speaking. We don't know what any one is dealing with, so it pays to give the ill manner kid the benefit of the doubt until otherwise proven differently. This quote definitely is good to keep in mind and in practice for everyone. :) Have a boogietastic week!
ReplyDeletelove to read the sentences: "Children, whatever they are doing,
ReplyDeleteare always doing their best.".....
Thank you to share your experience.
Very true about kids. And I like the idea of trying it on everyone.
ReplyDeleteWell said. I've often said everyone, unless the person is truly a sociopath, is doing the best they can with the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual strength at their disposal at that moment. Maybe i need to add "relational" to that.
ReplyDelete