“Get into the calm position.”

There are situations that can be overwhelming. You sometimes need a quick fix so that you can get calm. The “calm position” can help you. Try this now. Lift your head so that it is not bent. Straighten your shoulders so they are not hunched. Uncross your legs and have your feet firmly planted on the floor whether you are sitting or standing. The straighter you are, the better you can breathe deeply. Now take several deep breaths into your abdomen. Hold each breath for a few seconds and then slowly let it out. That is the “calm position.”

Have a great day and a wonderful week-end and do something great for yourself. You deserve it. You are a difference maker.

Maryln

“You are like a locksmith.”

A locksmith fixes locks so that they open and close properly. You are like a locksmith with your words. You hold the keys to the doorway of the words you use. Before you speak to a child, ask yourself, “Will what I say help or hurt the child?” If the words will help a child, unlock what you want to say and use your words. If the words may hurt the child, lock up what you would say until you can think of a better way to say it. Every word you say can make a difference in the life of a child. You are a difference maker.

Have a wonderful day.

Maryln

"Things are not always what we expect."

I love taking my grandchildren on vacations. This year, I made plans to take a vacation with my granddaughter Ciara. We decided we would go on a short cruise. We were both very excited as we boarded the ship, but soon things went from bad to worse. The cabin was a mess. The food was far from ideal. But we could have handled all of this if my granddaughter had not become ill. This was the second time this happened. I had taken her on another cruise several years ago with one of my other grandchildren, and they both became sick with a virus going through the ship. We were quarantined to the cabin for almost the entire trip. So this time when she got sick, we decided to get off the ship. We were in Southern California, and we checked into a hotel there. She spent the first day recovering, and then we started to both really enjoy ourselves. We took long walks, had fun on the beach, spent lots of time in nature, and talked and talked. The vacation wasn’t what we expected, but it was great!!!

It is the same with teaching. You may get a class this fall of new children that are not what you would expect or even wish you had. But that very class can turn out to be great in its own way just like our vacation turned out great in its own way.

Have a great day.

Maryln

Doing the right thing isn’t always easy, but it’s always right.

Over the week-end I went shopping for groceries at a large super market. It was very hot outside, nearly 100 degrees. The supermarket was so busy that I had to park all the way at the back of the parking lot. I finished my shopping and returned to my car with a cart full of groceries. The heat and humidity were oppressive. I was eager to get everything in the car quickly so nothing would spoil in the heat. It seemed to be about 20 degrees hotter inside my car and I had frozen foods that I had purchased.

As I was putting the groceries in the car, I looked down and noticed a thick wallet on the ground. I kept putting the groceries in my car while considering what I needed to do about the wallet. I confess that my first thought was “It’s hot and if I go into the supermarket, my food will spoil in the car.” Then I thought, “What if I take it inside and the manager keeps it and doesn’t try to find the owner?” Then as I finished putting the last sack in my car, I thought, “Someone may really need this wallet.” I knew that in spite of the heat and my concern about the food in my car, I would have to do my best to ensure that wallet got to its owner.

I closed up the car and headed back to the store. I found a clerk and said that I needed to see the store manager because I had found a wallet. The clerk to whom I spoke seemed shocked that I was turning it in. Together, we looked at the identification in the wallet, and the clerk started laughing with glee when he saw the name. He went into the front office and called to a man who came out. It was the manager, and he had on a name tag with the same name. It was his wallet. He was so grateful. It made my day. He said he had no idea that he didn’t have the wallet and that it must have fallen out when he got out of his car to come to work. He and the clerk wanted to buy me lunch, but I had my reward—seeing the happiness on his face.

The point is that it isn’t always easy to do the right thing, and children need to learn this. A great way to teach them is to present them with a situation like the one that I just described and talk about the different choices. Guide them to make the right choice. It isn’t always easy, but it is always right.

Have a great day.

Maryln

“You are like a coach.”

My son Marty, coaches a basketball team of 16 year old boys. They have been practicing for many months to play in a “mini Olympic” type competition. I always enjoy watching him coach the team. It is a lot like teaching. He encourages them to be their best. He supports them when they fall, and encourages them to not give up. That is what you do. You are a coach, a mentor, for your students. Your encouragement and support make the difference for many of your children between succeeding and failing. You are a difference maker.

Have a wonderful day and a wonderful week.

Maryln