Dear Reader,
Oh, those difficult teachers…
I have 3 kids, 18, 16, and 11. We have had our share of challenging teachers.
I will never forget the day my 3rd grader came out of the school on the last day of school, stuffing back the tears because of the very challenging teacher that he had been assigned. It was so heartbreaking.
I responded with, “Don’t you worry. You are a good kid. Just because others before you had a problem, doesn’t mean that you will. You are going to put your head down, work hard, and do your best. Let’s give the teacher a chance.”
And he did. And if you ask him today, who one of his best teachers was, he will reply, with the name of that teacher.
So much is about attitude. I am a big believer in coaching the kids on attitude. This starts with your example as their parent. Staying positive despite what others may have said about the teacher at hand. Going in with an open mind. Speaking in the positive, rather than the negative.
I also talk to my kids about understanding where their teacher is coming from. Maybe the teacher had a bad morning, maybe things aren’t going well in their life or there is a health issue. Try to understand that the bad attitude of the teacher is probably not about them, the student, but instead might be about themselves, the teacher. If that is the case, don’t own it, water off of a duck’s back. Be the best person you can be and let it go.
I also preach to my kids that a difficult teacher or person in their life is training. There will be many more difficult people in your child’s life that your child will need to learn to navigate, this difficult teacher will actually be helpful in teaching some very important relationship survival mechanisms.
The bottom line, give love and help your child navigate. Coaching that getting mad, angry, combative does no good, it might just escalate things.
Always be a role model to your child, show a good attitude, support, and positive communication. As parents, we are the greatest teacher that our children will ever have. Step into those shoes and be responsible.
With love,
0
