CONGRATS ON SAVING YOUR SON'S LIFE

SO MANY TIMES AS PARENTS, WE HEAR ABOUT WHAT ELSE WE COULD BE DOING FOR OUR CHILDREN.
SOMETIMES, JUST THE BASICS ARE ENOUGH.......AS IN "KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE"
 IT IS GREAT TO HEAR AND SUPPORT WHAT PARENTS ARE POSITIVELY D0ING IN A CHILD'S LIFE.......ESPECIALLY WHEN IT TAKES TIME OUT OF AN ALREADY CRAZY SCHEDULE


What started off as a "normal" day.............

I HAVE A PARENT WHOSE CHILD DID NOT SHOW UP AT TUTORING WITH THE EXCUSE THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE TO GO ANYMORE IF HE DIDN'T WANT TO. 

BELOW IS A SUMMARY OF EVENTS: (please replace the quoted words with more appropriate anger words)

CONGRATS ON REINTRODUCING YOURSELF AS HIS FATHER ("What the "heck" are you doing at home?")
CONGRATS ON APPROPRIATELY PLACING YOUR ANGER ("why the "heck" are you not at tutoring?")
CONGRATS ON NOT "COMPLAINING" ABOUT IT AND DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT (He better be home when I get there!!!)
CONGRATS ON GOING TO HIS LOCATION, GETTING HIM AND MAKING HIM DO HIS WORK("Get your "stuff" right now. You are going with me to work and you will do your work")
CONGRATS ON TALKING WITH HIM ABOUT IT AND HIS FUTURE COMMITTMENT (discussion on the agreement of tutoring)
CONGRATS ON TAKING AN ACTIVE INTEREST (bite of pizza afterwards)
CONGRATS ON TAKING THE THE TIME TO SAVE YOUR SON'S LIFE ("Dad, I'll be at tutoring tomorrow.........I promise")

YOU CAN BEST BELIEVE THAT NOT ONLY WILL HIS SON BE AT TUTORING NEXT TIME, BUT WILL HAVE THE ASSURANCE THAT HE IS BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY ALL INVOLVED.

NOW.......THAT IS HOW YOU RAISE A CONSCIENTIOUS CHILD. 

A SPECIAL KIND OF PATIENCE

Today in tutoring, I had to exercise a "special kind of patience".  Not only did I have my "regular" group of children, but also the ones who were "put out" of class. I willingly take them on because I own the business and want Envision to stay well represented.  Tutors/Teachers should not have to continuously deal with disrespect, when they themselves are pretty much volunteering to be there.

 I wanted to understand the disconnect.  Believe me.........they didn't behave any better for me than they did for the other teachers, but I believe I got somewhere.

As each child was "cappin'" on one another, I told them that before they got the reward of getting on the computer, they had to write for me.  One assignment was to look up the word "loquacious", write the definition and then give me 10 sentences using the word.

What was interesting is that when I asked them if they knew what the word meant, each student shared that they knew what it meant.

My mom said it means "that I am stupid"
another shared "It means that I am dumb"

there were only 4 extra students that I was dealing with and 50% sharing that they were identified as dumb/stupid.... I was done.

What I appreciated is that they did look up the word and find out that loquacious meant talkative.
I appreciated that they wrote the 10 sentences.
I appreciated that when they left for the day......they wanted to come back.

I'll take it.

WILL YOU WORK WITH ME AGAIN NEXT WEEK

Today, I had to leave a phenomenal event that highlighted the success of the Urban League to tutor 1 student at Bond Hill. I truly felt a bit of conflict.

1. Envision doesn't have the funds to attend an event for 1 hour.....then leave
2. That child will be okay for one day of me not attending.  That student will be okay.  It's just one day.

Now it is 12:40pm (tutoring @ 1pm) and I just couldn't do it.  I made a commitment to these children and if I have to sit there and stare at the walls for an hour, they will know my commitment.

I showed up at 1pm and the sweetie was excited to see me. 

One day does make a difference.  She was successful in her assignment that we worked on and wanted to make sure that I would be there next week.

I wouldn't miss it.  We all make choices.  It's so easy to forget how crucial our presence is when it comes to our youth.  Events.....galas.....networking parties.

Watching one student grow..............

Great Choice.