Why Can't We All Just Get Along?

Posted by Carrie Henderson Weston Mar 26, 2006

Searching for growth in the parent/teacher relationship for better understanding when discipline issues arise.

I wish that parents didn't fear talking to me about issues that affect their child. I feel so blessed that some parents feel close enough to me and the other teachers in our center to tell us about the things that are going on in their lives- the job problems, the grandparents dying, and the varied other issues that affect a child's behavior and their feelings of security. This issue is just one of the factors discussed in

part two of my article, "The "D" Word."

One of the saddest events that happened in the life of my school kids was when one of their grandfathers was severely injured in a woodworking accident with a lathe. He lost the use of one eye, and was in a coma for some time, which resulted in his being in an extended care facility. Because we teachers had a great relationship with the kids, as well as the parents, we were able to assist the family in this difficult time much more effectively. We could understand why Jenna and Matt were behaving differently than they usually did, and deal with their changed behavior with a greater deal of patience and understanding. We also could gather around the family and offer our support by babysitting when their mom needed to be with her dad, and listen when she came to pick the kids up from school after a difficult visit with her father. The relationship between daycare provider has an opportunity to move beyond the utilitarian and into supporting one another, and with this growth comes a much larger understanding of the reasons behind a child's behavior, even when it is difficult.