Surviving Isn't Succeeding

Posted by Joe Bruzzese Oct 23, 2007

"I don't want to go to school today," your daughter says as she rolls over to hit the snooze button--again.

Parents face this all-to-familiar morning ritual in response to the challenge of another school day.

Days that start as a struggle often end as a struggle. Struggling to confront the day and then relishing in it's conclusion is "surviving". As a parent you may have used the words, "I survived another day" or, "I made it through another day".

Surviving isn't succeeding.

Thriving is succeeding. Thriving, whether in middle school or in your career, results from pursuing the challenges of the day with energy and enthusiasm and persisting until the desired result is achieved.

Why do we quit in the face of adversity?

Adolescents who thrive in middle school share 3 characteristics:

1. The knowledge of how to build and sustain supportive relationships
2. Strategies and systems for organizing time and space
3. The tools required to create and achieve goals

How are you helping your middle schooler thrive?