Yes, I’ve said it again and again. The key, not just to working with children and youth, but to life, is the art of being present.
This morning, I found out (again) just how hard that is to do in the face of “shoulds”.
You know those shoulds… children “should” act a certain way, co-workers “should” do this and not that, the daily schedule “should” be followed, parents “should” parent their kids this way (and not that)… the list goes on forever.
Fortunately today, I ran across a blog post that says it all… “Don’t Should All Over Yourself“. Yes, the title of the blog is the “Art of Manliness”, but don’t let that put you off (if the play on words hasn’t already). This message is for everyone.
How it came about is this: I came to work on the opening shift (6:45 a.m.) running on a touch more than four hours of sleep and two cups of French Roast. Almost as soon as the doors were swung wide open, in walks one of our “Patience Angels” (so named because it’s a more useful framing of behavior-challenged kids: “God heard you were a patient teacher, so he sent you this patience angel to find out!”).
Almost immediately, he begins touching everything he’s not supposed to, irritating and criticizing the four or other so kids who have also arrived early, finding everything under the (7:00 a.m.) sun that there is about which to tattle, rolling over the back of the couch, sitting on furniture… well… you get the idea.
And I forgot. I forgot to be present. I forgot my taoist training to “observe and feel without judgement”. I forgot to look inward and find something I could give up– nothing new can be created without giving something up.
It was 4:00 p.m. before I realized that what I forgot to give up was the “shoulds”. How this child “should” behave. How smooth a day “should” begin. Only by giving up those “shoulds” can I be present, look deeper, and understand the all-too-human, all-too-insecure boy before me that is seeking attention, approval, and an outlet for his naturally intense behaviors.
And by giving up these “shoulds” (even 9 hours later!), I can finally see the angel that was sent to me.
After-School World 