Respect and Response

 


If you've been reading my blog regularly (and I hope you have, you know that I have a teen who is currently a junior and I (we) are trying to work with him and prepare him for college.  (I'm not sure if I'M prepared!)  One of the challenges I've had with him (and this is ongoing) is with planning and forward thinking.  You need to prepare.

It's not just my son who needs to learn this lesson, as I found out when I saw an email from the drama teacher.  It was to a whole group and in part said:   I have to say that I'm disappointed no cast is going to perform at the Arts festival, and that I'm finding that out today. It would have been better to let me know in advance that no one wanted to do it instead of refusing to reply to my requests to sign up. Maybe we could have scheduled a scene from the falls production, or a song from the musical, but as it is, I'm finding out today that no one wants to do it, and now we have nothing to do for the slot that we reserved. 

I've paraphrased what he wrote, but his disappointment was clear...and understandably so.  The students didn't respond; their apathy showed a lack of respect.  That's not good in a school situation; it could be disastrous in a work arena.

This email really hit home for me.  This is something I want to install in my son. (It's something I've been TRYING to instill in him; guess it's not working so well.)   It is my opinion (so I could be wrong) that when he fails it will not be because of what he did, but what he DIDN'T do.  The world requires us to be responsible if we want to succeed.  Whether it be an email, text or voicemail, a response is needed.  Lack of one screams a lack of respect.  (Even if that was not the person's intention.) 

It's the little things that we CAN and SHOULD do that can make all the difference in the world.  While spending hours studying for a test is good; turning in homework on a regular basis is better.  Asking questions and giving answers is key.   We need to respond in order to be responsible and show respect. Action is what can move us forward; inaction only holds us back.


Comments

  1. AnonymousJune 5, 2022 at 7:24 PM

    Well dear friend, your son, a junior in high school, did far better in this arena this evening than a committee of grown ups. I’m talking about a monthly church committee meeting that occurs every month on the first Sunday of the month and is published in the church calendar/newsletter. Your son showed up — no one else did — no calls, no emails, no nothing from anyone. Kudos to you. You are doing something right and so is your son!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

We Have Taken America Back

Image
Back to a time when all men (and women) are not created equal.  Where women's healthcare is determined by men's laws and not by medical professionals. Where education tells only the "winning" side of the story and truth does not matter.  Where banning and burning books is a social event.  Where people who are "different" than those in power can be mocked, shunned and hurt with no real consequences. Where lies are acceptable and integrity is  just a word on a page We have moved into a time where rage is the rage.  Where hate is not just normal, but accepted and even cheered. Where leaders can ask to have their "enemies" killed and no one will bat an eye.  Where it's "funny" to see someone struggle.  Where felony is applauded. Where compassion is not shown and caring for others is looked down upon. We have taken America back to a time of pain and suffering for many.  Back to when the "haves" can have and the have nots don'...
Read more

It's Not About Starbucks (or is it)?

Image
  About a block and a half from my home in a major intersection.  At the southeast corner (which is nearest to me), is an empty building.  Back in 1995 it was a Bank of NY (I remember this because they didn't shovel/de-ice their parking lot well and my husband fell and broke his ankle one Monday morning.  I recall this clearly because we were not yet married and it was the first day of a new job for me.  I had gotten on the bus to work and he was catching a later one; only he never got there.  Instead he ended up laying on the ground until an employee came to open up the bank.  Then he had them call an ambulance AND my mother who took control of the situation until I arrived home that night blissfully unaware of what had happened that day.)  It eventually became a Chase Bank; the second one in my small little town.  It eventually closed.  I'm not sure when but it's been empty for quite a long time.  (I do know that it was open in 20...
Read more

As Is

Image
  Today I want to discuss what I think it is a relatively simple concept, but may be difficult for some, even an attorney who might have once, over a decade ago won a  prestigious award  for young lawyers .  That term is "AS IS." As you may know, I volunteer in a thrift shop.  Everything we sell, from all the donations we receive, is "as is."  The items are not brand new.  They are not perfect.  That doesn't mean they aren't any good or worth something. They are sold "as is."  Buyers should go in knowing that. (After all you are shopping in a thrift shop!)  In some cases, particularly when we are offering higher end products, we will actually write on the price tag, "as is." Such is the case of two designer purses that I purchased from there this summer.  (I'm a purse-aholic!  Don't look in my closet.)  They were reasonably priced (especially when you consider the name brand), but each had an "as is" clearly marked o...
Read more