Values from Parents

I asked a new friend to tell me about his most favorite memory growing up in another country. I was curious to hear of any cultural differences or learn a little bit more about his upbringing. He said that he had mostly good memories of traveling with his family and spending the Christmas holiday at his grandma’s house. He then started to speak about his father, who passed away a few years back. He said that his father always expected the best from him and his siblings and nothing less. Always excellence. His father instilled that within him to the point where he constantly thinks about how his choices affect this family and strives to be the best to make his family proud and honorable. Hearing my friend talk about his father and the values instilled within him made me take a deeper look at the young man in front of me. It also made me reflect on my own personal values and how I portray them in my everyday life. What values did your parents instill in you that make you who you are today?

For me, I'd say excellence ("Don't do anything half-assed!"), neatness (chores galore), and openly communicating my thoughts and feelings (tantrums didn't get you much in my household). I'm sure there are more, but these would be where I would start. There are also values and traits that my parents have that I haven't necessarily picked up, which could be good and bad. Ha! What values or traits do your parents have that you wish or don't wish to develop?

*Jas*

Written on the eve of two important birthdays. Happy Birthday to my momma & grandma!

Emotional Pain In The...

You know that feeling in your throat that you get when you're fuming mad and hold whatever you want to say in. It's like a burning piece of coal in your throat that moves up your knock and into the back of your mouth. It now starts to sting as if you ate something that was knock-your-socks-off spicy or smack-your-momma sour. You then feel your body temperature rise, jaw locks, eyes water, behind the ears gets hot, and your head starts pounding.

I imagine this is how infuriated a fourth grade students was when he decided to yell, scream, and toss a chair in our classroom. Right?

I mean, why would you not be expected to sit down in a chair and not talk across the room?

Some educators think that this student needs strategies to deal with his anger. Eh, maybe. But wise ol' momma-Jas once told me, "When you cry and tantrum you're making the decision to not to use your words to express yourself. You're letting your emotions take over the power of your words." She always taught me that my words, opinion/voice are will get me further than tears and tantrums. I can't remember if it was a look or if I got my behind tore up for trying to tantrum. I do remember that I was ALWAYS able to question others and explain my feelings to adults if done respectfully and in a timely-manner.

Where has parenting gone? And so I pray...

*Jas*

Lunch Box vs. Academic/Social Behavior

Since last Friday, Roommate #2 and I have received phone calls from a parent every day after school.
No, not to ask about homework.
No, not to see if the student completes classwork.
No, definitely not to say hello and meet his new teachers.
No, not to discuss why he kicked another student.
He never talks back to adults or when the teacher is talking, so it wasn't to
discuss that.

It was to ask us about his dang on LUNCH BOX!!! I need to pray...

*Jas*