Everybody thinks that their kid is awesome. Whether it’s your niece, nephew, student, or sibling. You think your kids are the best thing since sliced bread. But what about when it’s not your kid. Imagine a kid in a restaurant (not your kid) screaming at the top of their lungs. Would you roll your eyes? Wince a little? Judge a little? Imagine you are teaching and a kid (not your kid), is dancing on top of the desk. Do you get a little annoyed after asking them to get down the first time, the fifth time, the eighth time? Imagine you are in a grocery store, and you see a kid (not your kid) snatching a toy from their sibling, they aren’t bothering the adults, but you can see on their little sibling’s face that they feel hurt. There is a reason they say, “You’re a teacher…bless your heart.” Kids suck!
We forgot somewhere between “Children are a gift from God” and “Children are our future”: Children are not infallible. Children (yes, even your children) make bad choices. Children do bad things. Children get on your nerves. Children struggle to understand sacrifice. Children are growing. Children grow up. Children are mirrors (and not very good ones). Children put pleasure first. Children like what’s comfortable. Children aren’t adults. Children put children first. Children want to fit in. Children will do anything to fit in. Children need more than you think they do after five. Children, even children with a mustache, are still children. Children have agendas. I could go on, but ultimately Children are of God, but Kim Kardashian BUT, Children are not God. Children are people. And not the best version of people; they are people in progress.
Like Gollum, people are ready to throw their child’s teacher into Mordor if they say their child isn’t precious. Despite the “evils” they may inflict on others and themselves, they turn a blind eye because, again, “MY precious”. Everyone has value: your child, nephew, niece, student, and guess what you. We are all entitled to dignity, fairness, equality, respect, and independence. But as I would tell my students, “when your rights start to rub someone else’s rights the wrong way, interventions and consequences are needed.” From a former educator, most people are not trying to hurt your child. Not everything is always sunshine and rainbows at home….or at school. Most people, most teachers, want what’s best for your child. We love them so much we want them to be the best version of themselves. To recognize when and where their best could be better. To learn from that mistake. To practice, “I am sorry,” when they hurt a friend. To understand I am not calling you out, I am calling you to action. To try one more time, even though “my mom was never a science person”. Why? Because children are our future.
Classroom to Corporate 