"You are meeting me as a grown adult." I tell my students and my children.
I'm not claiming to be a finished product. Or that either my students or my children look at me with complete reverence. But, numerous students have commented that I've figured life out or something to the effect that I'm elevated compared to them.
"I might be wiser," I tell them. "But, only because I have 30 more years of lessons than you."
I'll then pull a lesson from my past that relates to whatever issue we are discussing.
Recently, a 15 year old boy from Waterford, CT shared why he had been so distracted from his school work: infatuation. He had even told his parents. But, they each dismissed the issue as "silly."
Infatuation is not silly for teens. In fact, its not a trivial matter for anyone who is in it.
In broad strokes, I told my story of freshman year romance. I also noted that it was amazing that I can't even remember what I liked about the girl. But, I know it wasn't silly at the time. I also told him that his parents were young once as well and they probably had teenage crushes too. We then discussed how he could refocus his energy when he found himself obsessing over the girl.
A few weeks later, he was back on track. What happened? "I talked to my Dad, sort of man to man. He told me about a girl he liked when he was my age. It made me feel better."
Share your stories.
I'm not claiming to be a finished product. Or that either my students or my children look at me with complete reverence. But, numerous students have commented that I've figured life out or something to the effect that I'm elevated compared to them.
"I might be wiser," I tell them. "But, only because I have 30 more years of lessons than you."
I'll then pull a lesson from my past that relates to whatever issue we are discussing.
Recently, a 15 year old boy from Waterford, CT shared why he had been so distracted from his school work: infatuation. He had even told his parents. But, they each dismissed the issue as "silly."
Infatuation is not silly for teens. In fact, its not a trivial matter for anyone who is in it.
In broad strokes, I told my story of freshman year romance. I also noted that it was amazing that I can't even remember what I liked about the girl. But, I know it wasn't silly at the time. I also told him that his parents were young once as well and they probably had teenage crushes too. We then discussed how he could refocus his energy when he found himself obsessing over the girl.
A few weeks later, he was back on track. What happened? "I talked to my Dad, sort of man to man. He told me about a girl he liked when he was my age. It made me feel better."
Share your stories.