I was in Walmart the other day, lost. I don’t usually shop at Super-Sized Walmart, but I was on that side of town and, being all about efficiency, it made sense. But I’m so used to my dinky Walmart, that I was getting a little overwhelmed with all my aisle choices. I decided to step out in the “middle” and survey my surroundings. That’s when my ears pricked up as I overheard a mom say to her 6-year old-ish daughter…
Nathan’s been tutoring an eighth grade algebra student. He’s doing it for several reasons. First, he was asked. And highly recommended by a former teacher. Those kind of compliments feel good. Second, he’s making $15/hour. See my earlier blog. Third, he totally understands the content. Fourth, he’s a natural. He’s been hanging out with me teaching small math groups during my summer math camps. He’s had a lot of hands-on training. But more than that…he’s naturally good at it. He…
As I sit here writing this, my youngest son is out pounding the pavement. Money motivates him. Not in an unhealthy, consuming kind of way. But in an I-can’t-turn-down-this-opportunity kind of way. And I’m okay with that as long as his ethics and priorities are in the right place. And they are. This is not the first time this opportunity has presented itself. There was a flyer on top of his newspaper stack last week (he has a once-a-week paper…
Ryan came home from school today excited. His speech on the current state of health care had gone well. He had spent hours researching and organizing his thoughts on paper. Then there were the hours he spent practicing. But that’s not what this is about. It’s about socks. As Ryan was explaining the details of his presentation, he was kicking his feet behind him. I glanced at his foot as it came up and noticed that there were five, yes…
Trust…the ultimate confidence builder in kids. It requires that we let go and shift control into their hands, but the result is the development of self-esteem, competency, and independence. Giving your 3-year old a sponge so that she can help wipe up the kitchen table, and then allowing her to do the task according to her abilities, lets her know that you think she is capable. Similarly, having your teen print the What to Bring to Summer Camp list and…