Reading things like this gives me great pause. I'm alarmed by what's going on in our society. What is happening to parents? Haven't we read all the books? Aren't we full of good intentions?
When a child's personality doesn't match up with their teacher's, it can feel like there isn't a connection. But all is not lost! There are many ways you can help your daughter feel more at home in her new classroom.
Thank you for sharing these words from your heart. I know it may seem that you speak only for yourself, but believe me when I say that I don't know of a parent who doesn't feel some degree of regret over things they have said or done in a difficult moment--myself included.
Children are immensely adaptable, finding ways to adjust to all kinds of circumstances when necessary. Most of us have observed that when the power goes out and they get excited about lighting candles, or when a sibling is sick and they find themselves actually capable of being gentle and kind.
Many times I've worked with a parent who was brought up being told to keep her feelings to herself -- scolded if she dared to express her thoughts or wishes. Lo and behold, she grows up to find herself parenting a passionate, dramatic son or daughter who makes noise about every injustice that crosses his or her path.
Your stepson has been thrown into a situation that I see all too often: one parent says negative things about the other parent or stepparent, creating divided loyalties. The child is faced with an impossible dilemma: Whose side am I supposed to be on?
I don't mind that innings start late because kids are waving to their parents in the stands and asking for "just one more bite" of their granola bar through the chain-link fence. I don't mind the chaos, the confusion or the constant chatter. It's all part of the tee-ball game and as coach, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Isn't it strange how children seem to operate from two different rule books? One tells them how to behave when they're out in public, and the other lets them know what they can get away with at home.
Although there are stacks of books with advice for talking with teens about worrisome drinking and/or partying, they all assume one thing: that teens will take to heart what their parents have to say.
Even parents with a partner living under the same roof know that the probability of patiently meeting every need is impossible. But for those men and women who are going it alone -- by choice, or through circumstances they might never have imagined -- the realities of being the sole parent either full or part time is challenging at best.
