tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post2945279070331792174..comments2024-03-26T07:07:14.304-07:00Comments on Teacher Tom: I See Heartbreak In Their FutureTeacher Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-66785564815841373242014-05-23T20:33:51.874-07:002014-05-23T20:33:51.874-07:00These are the things that no one discusses with yo...These are the things that no one discusses with you when you are thinking of having children. The fact that you are only as happy as your saddest child... or your "potentially" saddest child. My son is developmentally out of touch with the social norms of his peers. He's just turned 5, but recently at a local play area he approached a group of 4 other children with a huge smile and asked them what they were laughing at. They didn't respond. I knew it was at him, but he didn't know that.<br /><br />I cry as I write this because I know that eventually he will figure it out and he won't have that huge smile on his face. At least for now, it's only me that's feeling sad.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-7741184350436165202014-05-22T07:04:42.096-07:002014-05-22T07:04:42.096-07:00I wish more teachers took your approach. You clari...I wish more teachers took your approach. You clarified the situation, gave them some options, and gave the kids something to think about without setting them up as "aggressors" and the other child as a "victim." Sportscasting win! I think it's really, really important to establish with children that everyone can be thoughtless sometimes, that you can simply amend your behavior and everyone moves on. And it's equally important that children realize they can speak up for themselves and their own interests, without having to defer to an adult to arbitrate all disputes. Sadiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11118190693184491316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-55003567159366346412014-05-21T21:30:04.451-07:002014-05-21T21:30:04.451-07:00I enjoyed this. I'm thinking that we should al...I enjoyed this. I'm thinking that we should always "jump in" to prevent permanent scarring, serious physical injuries, etc. However, every parent has a different idea of what his or her child should/can handle. Also, I believe that sometimes the learning process needs to play itself out naturally, and I believe that this was one of those times.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01721577894522683046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-78135018009006324902014-05-20T18:56:15.519-07:002014-05-20T18:56:15.519-07:00I had a similar situation happen with own precious...I had a similar situation happen with own precious two-year old daughter at the neighborhood park. She was curiously watching a group of 2-3 older girls play. They were running around and she started running with them. Then they started running away from her as if they didn't want her to join in. She was having fun and was ignorant to the fact that they weren't running with her. Then they were playing in sand. She wanted to join them to either just watch or play (she said she wanted to go over near them). One girl kept repeating, "What?!" rudely. Then they were telling eachother, "She's staring at me", "She's staring at me, too." and then proceded to scream loudly and my daughter would back away then curiously approach again, and they screamed again and then said, "she's scaring me". It was sooo difficult for me to watch this and to keep my mouth shut! I finally couldn't take it anymore and told them that she was watching them because she wants to see how they play because she doesn't have any brothers or sisters. They were stunned that she was an only child and started to allow her to play. One girl said that my daughter was scaring her because she was staring and I said, "she's two. your scared of someone who's two?" In hindsight, saying that was rude. It was like they were "mean girls" because they didn't know her but then they let her join in. Of course my heart was breaking.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-31856302825136111432014-05-20T16:57:24.372-07:002014-05-20T16:57:24.372-07:00I think most adults are all too willing to 'fi...I think most adults are all too willing to 'fix' the situation, before they have an understanding of said situation. I agree with your mode of operation--standing back in observer mode until you have a deeper, more thorough understanding of whatever situation the children are involved in. And, again, you didn't 'fix' the situation as you saw it, you helped the children see the situation for what it was--to all those involved. KBeckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01773061618201862530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-9717032463320833782014-05-20T15:31:42.590-07:002014-05-20T15:31:42.590-07:00I am never that afraid of the physical pain - bump...I am never that afraid of the physical pain - bumps and bruises - that my son, aged 3.10 - will experience. But that ache when I consider the heartache that he will experience from bullies and rejection by girls and not getting picked for a team makes me so sad that I almost wish I hadn't had him - to save him from that pain.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-19928952281523701052014-05-20T07:45:17.860-07:002014-05-20T07:45:17.860-07:00I love this post. What you did was exactly the rig...I love this post. What you did was exactly the right thing, but so hard as a parent who wants to prevent her child from being hurt!<br />jenrhogannoreply@blogger.com