Trust, Not Hope

Lately, I came across an interesting quotation:
'God doesn't need our hope, he needs our trust.'

As a Christian this makes complete sense.  As a parent and educator it makes complete sense as well.  Do kids need our hope?  Or do they need our trust?  I recall being a careful observer with our past school counselor.  A student was making poor choices in his treatment towards a classmate.  Before she finished her conversation with him, her words have never left me:  'Can I DEPEND on you to make the right choices in the future.'  It wasn't:  'Can I hope' or 'Can you do this' but it was a level of trust she was seeking out.

As we work with students day in, day out, are we creating environments of trust?  Or are we just hoping that they will fulfill expectations?  Do we set them up for success by setting the bar where it needs to be? 

Can You Force Passion?

The month of July flew by WAY to fast and I find myself not only missing my kids, but also missing my treadmill.  Weird, huh?  I am by no means an exercise lover—in fact, I am the type that needs motivation to exercise.  Motivation such as a monster chasing me, or a chocolaty dessert to look forward to.  However, this summer I was determined to make time each day for a quick workout.  This meant devotion, I had to give up an afternoon snooze and my scrapbooking habits to actually do something that made me sweat.  Ick.

So as I sit in my office and diligently prepare for students and teachers, I find my mind wandering now and then to my newly admired treadmill…..and I find myself yearning to take a quick run.  Wow.  How did that happen?  Did I finally figure out a way to take something I despise and make it more of a passion?  Or did I just find my motivation?

As educators, we know passion is why we do what we do.  Who else (besides the average 7 year old) gets excited about school supply sales and new books?!  So in order to do our jobs well, do we need that passion every day?  Can we force passion within ourselves when there are areas we know need to be improved?  And how can we help others find their passion or rekindle a passion that was once there?

It's About Time!

I could just kick myself.  Where have I been?  I’m not even close to being done reading ‘The 7 Habits of Effective People’ and I cannot believe that I did not pick up that book years ago.  As a parent and educator, Covey’s habits are irrefutable.  As I read through the first three habits, I started to wonder how many people could truly be impacted if they only had the knowledge and exposure to this perspective?!  What if everyone had a mission statement?

As the last few days of July wind down, I find myself reflecting on a personal mission statement as well as one for our family.  A sense of urgency runs through me as I read what Covey states, “. . .other people begin to sense that you’re not being driven by everything that happens to you.  You have a sense of mission about what you’re trying to do and you are excited about it.” 

What is your mission statement?  Can others sense you have a mission?  And have you taken the time to create a family mission statement?  If so, what are the key pieces you have found?

Dog Days

Dog lovers know that when the loss of a dog occurs, it's like losing a member of the family.  While I have had this experience as a child growing up, I never realized how much harder it is when you are the parent.  Today our loyal dog of 11+ years, Annie, went to the Rainbow Bridge.....a place where she can run and play and wait for us to meet her some day.

As I reflect on the impact she had on our lives, I think of the loyalty for which dogs are typically known.  It is a loyalty that has 'automatic-trust' built in.  A loyalty that is unquestioning, unshakeable.  When discipline is given to our dogs, they tend to love us more and depend on us more.  And when we spend time together, it is a bond like none other.  I recall the loyalty of our dog towards our growing children--from putting up with their toddler 'grabs' to protecting them as they run from the front to back yard on a windy spring day.  She had a job to do and she took it VERY seriously.

How do we foster loyalty in our school community?  How can we help others trust in our leadership and decisions to a level of being 'unshakeable?'  Are we showing others that we can be dependable? 

Up to Your Neck in......Oobleck?!

'You may be a mighty king, but you're sitting in oobleck up to your chin.'
Dr. Seuss sure knows how to paint a vivid picture in his classic Bartholomew and the Oobleck.  Not only do we know the 'stickiness' of the situation King of Didd was caught up in, many of us can relate to that feeling.  The overwhelming 'to do' list, the piles of paperwork that need to be filed and the calendar that keeps moving us forward, regardless of our pace.  When we are 'up to our chin' in our quandaries, we can become selfish in nature, feeling like we are all alone in our frustrations.  Nobody understands our stress!  Calgon, take me away!

Last week, thankfully, I was forgiven by a teacher that caught me in my own pile of oobleck.  A simple request was made and I felt I didn't have the time.  I responded hastily, selfishly, and then by the next morning, realized the selfishness of my choice.  I  had become the king stuck in oobleck.  And when we become the king stuck in oobleck, it affects more than just the person in the mirror......

  'And so is everyone else in your land.'

What else could I do?  I had to apologize, I had to reconsider the request.  After fulfilling the duty, I felt good about my decision to back up and do the right thing.  I realized that even though I felt stuck in the muck, I had to power to get myself out and to hopefully affect those around me in a more positive light.

What happens when you get stuck in the oobleck?  What thoughts do you have and how do you get yourself 'unstuck'?

'Tis the Season?!

Giving is one of the most important things we do.....and as educators, we know the spirit of giving without seeing immediate results is ongoing.  So how can we impact others during other times of the year, not just during the holidays?  How can we spread the word and encourage others to 'pay it forward' as we try to do daily?  At a recent holiday party, I was lucky enough to be in a discussion with two very intelligent ladies.  One is a grandmother and the other an educator as well as a mother.  We talked about Random Acts of Kindness and how we want our kids and grandkids to be a part of doing things for others.  A list of suggestions was then shared and from there......

We will see what 2012 brings!  My daughter is so excited as we read through the list of suggestions.  She likes the thought of a family renting a movie and finding microwave popcorn taped to the machine.  And what will that librarian say when our books are returned with a surprise $1 bill inside?  I am even more excited about our future works than I was on Christmas morning!  Our plan is to do at least one random act of kindness each week--that makes 52 in the upcoming year.  Doable?  You bet! 

What are you making? What are you giving?

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”

 ― Winston S. Churchill

Each Christmas season, our school nurse takes on the burdens of others and sends out letters to needy families, inquiring if they need help with gifts.  Many of our school staff members choose to participate in helping others as well as our local churches and community members.  It always amazes me how people 'step up' and want so much to make sure that all kids have a merry holiday season.

This year, I sought out one student that I knew would need an outfit for the upcoming winter concert.  So, along with another teacher, we found a typical outfit that we would purchase for our own kids.  The shoes, tights, even the little hair bows and shoes that make an outfit complete.  We gave it to her teacher and at the end of the school day, the student happened to stop by the office on the way out the door.  If I hadn't been in the doorway, I'm not sure I would have experienced such a wonderful opportunity.

"Mrs Nelson," she sternly directed towards me, "Did you let Santa Claus into the building this morning?!"  I looked at her with wide eyes and assured her that I had not seen anyone in the building.  She went on, "Well he brought me a special outfit for the concert and it is so pretty!"  I told her I could not wait to see her all dressed up for the concert and encouraged her to go home and try it on for her mom to see.  She had a HUGE smile on her face and bounded down the steps, on a mission to get home.

Wow.  How cool is that?  Sometimes we give and do not get to see the reaction.  Other times we give and get a negative reaction.  How can we help our students and kids understand that giving is one of the most important things we do as humans?  How can we help students understand that as adults sometimes our way of giving is in the form of discipline or structure?  And most importantly, what kind of life are you making?