Two of my children will be in new schools, one planned and one not even considered six months ago.
Schools change, though, and it is in my daughter’s best educational interest to change schools as a high school junior. This breaks my heart on many levels.
On other levels, though, it is reminding me that love wins
and using love rather than anger or fear or contempt is always best.
The one educator who provided the “last straw in the camel’s back” which lead to my daughter's transfer emailed me the other day following up on a request made (and ignored) at the end of last academic year. I haven’t responded yet because I was so surprised to receive the email and rather than write back an angry missive, I have taken my time to respond.
I plan to write back, with love, compassion and forgiveness. It has been writing itself in my head for two days now. I will write the rough draft tonight and tomorrow, edit it down to the words which are the most grace-filled and caring.
It is no accident I have been reading Pema Chodron’s book, The Places That Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times, right now as the school year is about to begin. This morning I felt cautiously optimistic: a definite step in the right direction.
If you are living with frustration as your children return to academia, please remember the words of Pema Chodron and look for the teaching in every educator you meet, especially those that may upset and anger you at first.
Take a deep breath and repeat the words, “open to love” and see how it changes both your attitude and the responses you receive from others. Open to love, Open to love, Open to love….
I have to tell you all, by the way, as I was writing I got a phone call for an appointment for Samuel, one that had been elusive. Being open to love also meant being open to whatever the outcome came to be.
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