The week’s edition of Self-Care Sunday focuses on spirituality (don’t confuse it with religion). Part of my spiritual walk involves growing in areas where I demonstrate weakness. I confess to not having a natural talent for encouraging others. I’ll share a lesson I learned about troubled relationships and encouragement.
Trouble
“Can I borrow your cell phone?” she asked me the first week of school when I stood outside on playground duty.
“What grade are you in?” I asked.
“Fourth. I need to call my dad. It’s important.”
I didn’t know all of the students—especially the ones in the lower grades. “Ok. I’ll let you use it this time, but just for a moment.”
“Melanie! Come here!” another student shouted from across campus.
“Just a second,” she called back as she punched in the number. No one answered, and Melanie handed the phone back to me with a surly look. “Must be drunk already,” she muttered as she ran off to join her friend.
Each time I had playground duty I seemed to have a run in with Melanie. “I need to use your phone,” she demanded the next day.
“Is it an emergency?”
“Yes,” she snarled. “It’s payday and I need to tell my dad to buy me a phone.”
My hackles rose at her response. What fourth grader needs a phone? Wants, yes. But needs? Not an emergency in my book. “I’m sorry, Melanie,” I said. “You can use the dorm phone in about twenty minutes. I only let others use my phone for emergencies.”
“It’s an emergency,” she said as she threw her backpack on the ground and stalked away, “if I don’t call now he might drink too much and pass out.”
I shook my head but held my ground. As the first days turned into the first week and then the first month of school, it seemed that Melanie and I had one run in after the other.
“You can’t climb out that far on the tree branch, Melanie. It could break and you might fall and hurt yourself.” “You need to wipe down the table, Melanie, you were the last one there.” It didn’t matter that I’d given her the same warning 24 hours earlier—she continually needed reminding of the basic rules of safety for campus. Every interaction seemed to end on a whine with a side of attitude.
Turning a Negative into a Positive
I hate it when I only interact with students in neutral or negative ways—but I spent so little time with the younger kids that didn’t know how to solve the problem. I desperately sought a positive shared experience so that we could see each other in a different light.
My opportunity arrived in the form of a mountain bike ride in the rain. Pedro had invited her to join the bike ride with a group of bigger students—but I worried that her inclusion on the outing would end up in disaster. For one thing, she never seemed to follow instructions. For another, she didn’t look physically capable of handling the bicycle meant for a larger student: her skinny legs dangled on either side of the seat and her toes scarcely touched the ground. Her spiky hair stuck up through the holes in the helmet and her baggy shorts reached past her knobby knees. The metal tubes of the bike looked larger than her frail arms.
“Have you ridden much before?” I asked her.
“I know how to ride a bike,” she assured me.
She surprised me by listening attentively to Pedro’s instructions and warnings before we started the ride. The newbie riders, Melanie included, ended up at the back of the pack, where Pedro and I rode so that we could coach and encourage them. I lost sight of Melanie a time or two as I stopped to help other kids who had jammed their chains whilst learning how to shift. I caught up with Melanie as we headed down the first big section of downhill. She walked beside her bike.
Opportunities for Encouragement
Every interaction seemed to end on a whine with a side of attitude. #parenting #teacher #relationships Click To Tweet“I fell over,” she announced.
“Did you hurt anything?” I asked her.
She shook her head. “I’m walking this part because Mr. Ojeda said to walk if it looked too scary,” she admitted.
“That’s a great choice,” I exclaimed. “You’re smart to take it easy on the hard parts until you have more experience.” For the remainder of the ride, I had ample opportunity to shout encouragement as she struggled up hills and wrestled with the slightly big bicycle. As rain started to fall, I hoped the trail wouldn’t get too muddy—it would only double the difficulty for the new riders.
At one point Melanie slid off the seat only to find herself suspended in the air with only the tips of her toes touching the ground. Somehow, her baggy shorts had become hopelessly tangled around the seat and post of the bicycle. I hurried to catch up with her and we laughed at her predicament and figured out how to free her from the now slippery seat post.
“You’re doing really well,” I assured her. “Even though your bike is wet you’re improving each time I see you.” She grinned and took off down the trail. And promptly collided with another student that she attempted to pass just as his bike tipped over.
It took a few minutes to untangle the two bikes, but once we had the situation under control, Melanie looked at the other student. “I’m sorry,” she said as she hopped back on her bike and rode off. She may have even smiled.
Four Tips for a New Start
Two days later, when I saw her on the playground, I asked her how her legs felt. She admitted that they hurt a little, but she assured me that she wanted to go on another bike ride.
If you find yourself in a negative cycle with someone—whether it’s a student or your own child, these four tips might help you reset your troubled relationship.
1. Pray for an understanding heart. I knew that Melanie had a lot of negativity in her life, and so I started praying for her. I also prayed for myself—that I wouldn’t let my natural irritation make our interactions even more negative.
2. Seek situations where you can genuinely encourage and praise. Pedro, as principal, has insider knowledge of who needs positive reinforcement. The mountain biking expeditions give us ample opportunity to praise and encourage students in a non-academic setting.
3. Take time to build relationships. Kids, whether they are your own or someone else’s, have a deep desire to be accepted as is. If we’re willing to hang out with kids and listen and ask questions, they will know that we accept them.
4. Don’t be afraid to employ the power of the do-over. I haven’t used this with Melanie yet, but I know the power of stepping back from a tense situation and saying, “Hey, this isn’t going well. Why don’t we do this over again?”
These four tips can help you reset a troubled #relationship with a young person. #doover Click To TweetQ4U: What have you found to work when you seem to butt heads with a young person?
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I’m so glad both you and Melanie persevered in all sorts of ways, Anita! Inspiring post! I’ve pinned to my Relationship Resources board! Thanks so much for the linkup!
Beth recently posted…Comment on 8 Creative and Romantic Gift Ideas for Your Mate by The Unfair Task of Forgiving an Unapologetic Spouse
And thank you for faithfully linking up your wonderful posts, Beth!
Anita Ojeda recently posted…How to Make Your Blog Graphics Pinterest Friendly
I have so much respect for teachers. (My husband is one, so I hear his stories, too!)
Thanks for these tips from the trenches where you’ve learned so much. I especially love the thoughts on the do-over! I’ve had to employ that so many times with my own kids.
Michele Morin recently posted…The Miracle of Humanity (and Fairy Tales for Grown Ups)
Yep, I learned the power of the do-over from my kids!
Anita Ojeda recently posted…How to Make Your Blog Graphics Pinterest Friendly
Great post Anita, relationships always can do with a bit of prayer, encouragement & at times a do over ir even a make over 😉 !
Jennifer
Thanks, Jennifer! It’s important to give grace, isn’t it?
Anita Ojeda recently posted…How to Make Your Blog Graphics Pinterest Friendly
This is so true in parenting as well as teaching (taught HS 10 years!) – I have to remind myself at time to push a reset button and say the positive thing when the negative jumps to the forefront. Great post.
Sue Donaldson recently posted…Hospitality and Widows Go Together: Can You Make Room?
Thanks, Sue! I’m realizing that I’m most susceptible to negativity when I’m tired–this knowledge gives me an excuse to go to bed early and get enough rest!
Anita Ojeda recently posted…How to Make Your Blog Graphics Pinterest Friendly
So much patience in your wisdom interaction, I love this story!
Thanks, Lisa Anne!
Anita Ojeda recently posted…What Happens When Family Admits You to a Psych Ward?
These tips can apply to many situations in need of change. And sometimes as we utilize these tips, it is we ourselves who are also changed! Wonderful post!
Joanne Viola recently posted…Take One More Step
I find that I change the more I extend grace to other people.
Anita Ojeda recently posted…How to Make Your Blog Graphics Pinterest Friendly
Such great points. Sometimes the people who need our compassion the most are the ones it’s hardest to give it to. But that reminds us that God reached out to us even when we weren’t easy to love.
Barbara Harper recently posted…Where Is God’s Compassion and Mercy in Job?
Exactly! When God sees us and our behavior, he probably does a lot of head shaking :/.
Anita Ojeda recently posted…How to Make Your Blog Graphics Pinterest Friendly
I love reading of your adventures with Melanie. It can be so trying when personalities clash (among other things), but your genuine concern and patience wins the day. Thanks for encouraging us to stick it out even with those that are harder to be around. Everyone needs love!
Lisa notes recently posted…12 Ways to Be Content
Everybody always! (Can you tell I just finished reading Bob Goff’s latest book?).
Anita Ojeda recently posted…How to Make Your Blog Graphics Pinterest Friendly
Dear Anita, I, too, continue learning that honey draws more flies than vinegar, with kids and adults. I have also learned that kids can be smarter than we think. They like praise and encouragement, but they can spot the phony stuff a mile off. That has taught me the biggest thing: I have to INTENTIONALLY LOOK for a reason to praise. And that can take some refocusing of the heart and mind. Thanks and blessings, Dear Teacher, for encouraging us in encouraging others.
Absolutely! If it’s phony, they’ll know it!
Anita Ojeda recently posted…How to Make Your Blog Graphics Pinterest Friendly
What a great lesson. I always related better with the younger students and I know you do the same for the older students. I am glad you found the opportunity to develop your relationship with Melanie. Patience is always needed but your advice to pray for an understanding heart is also important. Hope the school year ends well my friend!
Mary Geisen recently posted…Monthly Musings ~ April 2018
Thank you, Mary! Just 7.5 days of school left! Yikes! So much to do!
Anita Ojeda recently posted…How to Make Your Blog Graphics Pinterest Friendly
I love your story Anita! It’s so important to find an opportunity to connect with others. Encouragement is a perfect tool!
Thank you, Char :). I’m working at encouraging other more–it doesn’t cost anything. Not to mention that it’s the perfect investment in others!
Anita Ojeda recently posted…How to Make Your Blog Graphics Pinterest Friendly
Great story and tips. When I am butting heads with a youngster (often my teen), I know if I can step back and take a few deep breathes and be the first to apologize, it always breaks the tension and softens both our hearts. The other thing that helps is teasing him or getting him to laugh. Saying something so outrageous we both laugh. Like, “I am thinking that dish on the table will mold before you remember to put it away in the dishwasher.”
Theresa Boedeker recently posted…Stay at Home Moms are Working Moms
I love the outrageous comment ploy! I’ll have to try that with my students :).
Anita Ojeda recently posted…How to Make Your Blog Graphics Pinterest Friendly
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