So scrolling Facebook today I came across this statement by Annette Breaux, “Remember: everyone in the classroom has a story that leads to misbehaviour or defiance. 9 times out of 10, the story behind the misbehaviour won’t make you angry. It will break your heart.”
In my role as a School Principal I know this statement to be very true. There has never been a badly behaved child ‘just because’. When it comes to ‘Launching Kids for Life’ we need to teach them to look at the big picture. If they have been badly treated by another, instead of letting them be a victim, teach them to think, “Hurting people hurt others!”. (My girls still groan at this statement because I have said it so much, but it is true). Having a thought pattern like this will help them to understand the big picture. This doesn’t mean they ignore being treated badly, they need to talk it through, but we must always help our kids to forgive, to think the best of the other person even if its hard, and to not get stuck in the trap of offence. These are the kinds of traits that will prosper them and not harm them. It will teach them to be strong and resilient.
I have seen some really bad behaviour, but I have also seen the whole picture (or maybe more of the picture, if not all). Not everyone gets to see the whole picture so it is always best to not judge when a child is misbehaving and instead seek knowledge about the situation and how best to deal with it. My heart has broken over and over again seeing kids situations, but it has broken even more when others have wanted punishment, not knowing the full picture.
Remember when confronted by bad behaviour love always wins! Choose to love through all situations. If Jesus after being beaten, cursed and nailed to a cross can say, “Forgive them Father for they do not know that they are doing” (Luke 23:34) we can also teach our kids to forgive others.
Love,
Mim
Launching Your Kids for Life 