You’ve heard the saying “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!”
When I ordered a new washing machine and dryer in late March, I got some seriously sour lemons in customer service from a well known national home improvement store. The harrowing experience lasted for 2 ½ weeks and included:
23 hours in which I was confined to my home waiting for 8 separate delivery crews or appliance service technicians.
Over 10 hours (yes hours) of phone calls to the store to get customer service I’m paying for.
Over 3 hours of phone calls to the appliance company to trouble shoot machines that ended up not working because of human error.
A string of human errors and incompetence including delivery men not knowing how to switch door swing on the dryer, not turning on the gas line to the dryer, not balancing the washing machine properly which caused the pieces inside to literally shred (the machine had to be replaced), not turning on the cold water to the washing machine, and dragging trolley grease up the staircase carpeting.
Robotic customer service who said “I’m sorry” with the most un-empathetic, unconvincing communication and no gesture to prove improved efficiency or courtesy.
But alas, there is lemonade to be made.
I don’t doubt that I’m the only one who has had an experience like this. You probably have too! Was it the cable, satellite, phone, or internet company? Could a poor work ethic have caused workers not to maintain a Southwest airplane properly causing the recent mid-flight “hole” to appear? Perhaps the more important question is what can we do about these incidences?
To me the answer lies in Gandhi’s words. He said “Be the change you want to see in the world”. Not only can we function with a strong work ethic and empathetic attitude but we can teach these values to our children.
Now we have reached the part where we can make lemonade.
Parents are the CEO’s of their families. Their leadership in the home is responsible for sculpting future citizens and employees. Take a moment to dream about how productive and kind our world could be if every parent took this leadership with gravity.
Here are some ideas to ponder. Take what works and toss what doesn’t.
1. Starting at a young age, teach kids to focus. Start with simple tasks like homework. Eliminate distracters like cell phone text messaging, Facebook , music , or TV so kids can concentrate on completing one task comprehensively and with accuracy. Kids wouldn’t allow themselves to get distracted when they need to score points in a video game. If they can focus there, they can focus anywhere! Focus is the basis of a “job well done” that eventually sprouts pride. Effective multitasking can only grow from effective single-tasking!
2. Be the “best.” When I was a younger, my dad told me to be whatever I wanted, but to be the “best” at it. Ask your children what it takes for them to be their “personal best.” Incorporate their ideas to help them create a plan of action about any given task from homework to sports or even video games. Kids love to have their ideas taken seriously and revel in creatively carving their own successes.
3. Limits, consequences, and consistency are supposed to be a parenting mantra but they are not easy to enforce. If the police gave you a traffic ticket for a rolling stop instead of a complete stop at a stop sign, chances are you would refrain from that recurring. Parents, you are your child’s police officer. You hold the power to enforce a strong work ethic instead of letting a weak one slide.
4. Elvis said it best. “Walk a mile in my shoes.” Teaching our kids to have empathy can make a world of difference in how they treat others. We don’t like being in situations like the one I described at the beginning of this post. We can avoid putting others in that situation by knowing what it feels like and doing our “best” to prevent it from happening. Sincerity and integrity matter.
Over to you. What do you think? Can we effectively follow Gandhi’s words by being the change we want to see in the world? Can our strong work ethic and that of our kids make a community wide difference? Please leave your comments as well as your suggestions on building work ethic in kids.
April is Stress Awareness Month. If you aren’t aware of that fact, I’d bet that you are at least aware of all the stress in your life. But let’s not talk about our stressors. Let’s talk about what we can do to ease them.
An old wives tale tells us that “Laughter is the Best Medicine.” Research suggests that this might just be true! Here’s why.
Laughter reduces the levels of stress hormones in our bodies. At the same time, it increases the release of feel good chemicals like endorphins. It can also help to boost the immune system to keep you more germ resistant and healthy.
Oh you want more proof? How about this? Laughter could improve your social life. When you smile or laugh, you make yourself more inviting. Think about it. If you saw a room full of people would you approach the brooders or the ones who looked happy? Enough said!
Laughter is contagious. Have you ever heard someone laugh so hard that you laughed too? Now imagine if you made other people laugh. I think you’d be building some seriously good karma.
Lastly, laughter is FREE. You have no fiscal excuse not to engage in it.
What does all this have to do with parenting? Quite simply, a less stressed parent is a healthier parent whose happiness will positively affect the family!
So what do you think? Can you commit to consciously laughing for the remainder of April? Here is a favorite video of mine to get you started. I know, I know! You may have seen this before but isn’t it worth repeating for all the reasons I outlined above?
Go ahead. I dare you not to laugh! When you’re done watching, come back and leave us a comment including what makes you laugh. What funny movies or jokes can you share with us?
In case the video link is not working, you can access the video here.
I was searching for cream cheese in the dairy aisle when I heard giggles from adorable twin boys fully engaged in a poking contest.Their gregarious age appropriate behavior gave me a chuckle until the poking turned to malicious pinching. Twin one screamed “OOWWW” followed by “MOMMM!” Twin two got a well deserved glare from mom followed by “Apologize to your brother right now!” Read more… »
If you have been on an airplane and have actually listened to the safety instructions you know what to do if cabin pressure drops and the oxygen mask is required. First you put on your own mask and then you help others. Why should you go first? Two obvious reasons come to mind. First, a child companion would be more likely to put on an oxygen mask if they see a parent role model it. Second, logic tells us that we have to be able to breathe in order to help someone else breathe!
Like it or not, mean people exist. They can be found anywhere from adult workplaces, to children’s schoolyards, to softball or football fields where we all gather for fun and friendly competition. Mean people’s words and or actions can cause us emotional anguish. Many operate intentionally while others function from a place of sheer ignorance not even realizing how negatively they impact others.
Death is never easy to accept. When it comes prematurely, it yields unrelenting agony for those left behind. Our hearts ache, particularly, for children who are not equipped to understand.
My own heart is aching for one very young fellow who recently lost his mom to cancer. This mom had many roles but “mother” is the one she fought hardest for. Motherhood is a job that can never really be finished. There is always an opportunity to love, teach, impart wisdom, extend the hand of friendship, soothe pains, revel in joys, and of course so much more. In a job that seems limitless, this mom had very limited time.
I came to comprehend her plight most clearly when I read her last online journal entry. Read more… »
Typically, when Atlanta gets snow, it is minimal and melts within a day. This past January we got five inches topped with a solid half inch of ice. Global warming temperatures were not ours to have and Mother Nature’s wrath stayed with us for a week. With only 11 snow plows, Atlanta was paralyzed and its residents were sequestered indoors. Shouts of joy could be heard from every child who had the week off from school.
Have you ever been so adamant about your opinion being the only right one? Have your kids? It is a trait common to all of us and one that can be dangerous. Being “right” comes in handy if you’re on a debate team. But if this isn’t managed in everyday living, it can contribute to inflated egos, offensive opinions, and frequent arguments with those who dare to differ. And what if you’re actually wrong? Being called out on errors and forced to swallow pride is not fun for anyone. I know, I’ve been there!
There is an opportunity here for parents and kids alike.
This thought provoking poem serves as a tool in reminding us that while we may be right, others can also be. Read more… »
Many parents seeking sleep for their toddlers (and themselves) want to know, “what do I do about my child’s nighttime fears?” One mother who recently posed this question said she didn’t want to put a band- aid on her toddler’s fears but actually wanted him to have coping strategies. What a smart mom! Read more… »
We’re just days away from Valentine’s Day. If I see one more Pajama-gram commercial, I might just heave. Retailers have us believing that the day is solely about gift giving instead of the deeper meaning of love. Are marketing messages telling adults and kids that love comes more from a store and less from the heart? Sure, love can be expressed with a gift but does it have to be a material one?
With the exception of a card, the Valentine rule in our household is “no store bought gifts”. Dare to spend twice the usual price on flowers, and you’ll spend a night in the doghouse! Our celebration of St. Valentine’s legacy includes an extra special home cooked meal and participation in a mandatory roundtable discussion which includes sharing three characteristic we value in each other. The teen rolls his eyes but when it’s his turn to revel in what is said about his positive characteristics, a “thank you” is on the tongue and family love is in the air!
So, this week’s blog ends with a simple question. What non material traditions do you use to convey love in your family? C’mon, share the love!
