You're not alone!

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Home : 2001 : November : 17

You're not alone!
By J.L.

Every teacher has experienced this - REALLY! And it's almost the straw that can break your back. You put up with so much and work so hard and that's the thanks you get - that's how it can make you feel. PLEASE consider
reading the book "The Four Agreements" - it's a recent bestseller and a quick read. It contains the 4 secrets to leading a happy life and one of them, as hard as it seems, is to NEVER take things personally. The book does a good job explaining how you CAN do this. What this parent did has EVERYTHING to do with something going on with that person, and NOTHING to do with you. I promise

you, this book will help you see that. The parent probably feels very inadequate and is so afraid that the problems her child is having is some reflection on her so she needs to blame someone else. I've learned to listen closely, while my heart is beating wildly, and sometimes I'm successful at really getting at what is bothering the parent (once, it was that her husband is abusive to the child when he does poorly in school). Anyway, reading that book made it A LOT easier. You can even sit down in the bookstore and just about read the whole thing - don't skip the beginning. Hope this helps - but KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE - it happens to every teacher.