Parenting: A Countercultural Movement
Dear Parent,
I love your child. Trust me, you are not the only one. I’ve spent countless hours catering to their education. Because I care. If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t be here and I certainly wouldn’t lead four day field trips and make as many weekend soccer games and softball tourneys as I could. I am serious about my job because I know that I have a few, short, 10 months with them and those months have got to count. Otherwise, all the stress and agony of putting up with your innumerable demands wouldn’t be worth it. Your dear, sweet, perfect and perpetually innocent child spends more time with me, than with you, and therefore, I feel that I am fairly aware of his or her needs. Stop placing the blame, and if you must, limit your emails to one a day. Here’s my automated reply: I am one part of the puzzle. Please help them succeed, by limiting television, video games, after school language acquisition classes, karate, and harmonica lessons. Don’t make things harder on them by filling their lives with calendar events– teaching them that life is stress. Let me take the time to tell you that life is not stress… that life is beautiful and great things happen in it… if you create the free space necessary for development and growth. Let there be silence occasionally. Turn the noise off and listen to what they have to say. Stand still and let them come to you. They look up to you. They will learn from you more than they will learn from me. So, be their hero. Live the life they are looking forward to. Partner with me. Don’t teach them disrespect through your own disregard for others. You want your child to love others? Stop being hateful. You want him to tell the truth? Be honest and vulnerable. Squash pride, admit when you are wrong, it doesn’t make you weak in their eyes- only stronger. Build barriers of protection around them by establishing boundaries. Don’t give them everything that comes up… they will ask for it all, it’s their nature, our nature. But keep to that inner voice that cherishes innocence, simplicity and humility. Give them the gift of strength through love. Love, love, love; nothing more, nothing less. It’s a short time and will all be over in the blink of an eye.
Miss Thompson
your manifesto. Beautiful, just like Miss Thompson. I am so proud of you and the year you have persevered.
I honestly couldn’t have done it without you.
Jen, Just wanted to send you an invite to visit my newest blog site entitled Christian Teacher Forum here at WordPress. I don’t know if you’re a Christian, but as an educator, I would welcome your comments. Also, if you are looking for a job overseas, our school in Panama is now hiring middle school teachers for English, Math and History. Also a couple of elementary positions are available. Panama is a gorgeous place to live and work–I have been here for 5 years, and I can testify that the school is a fabulous environment and the kids are top quality. The school’s website is http://www.ccapanama.com/ if you want to check it out. Have a great day!