The Boston Bruins hockey team had a major change of players last week. The team captain was traded, along with three other terrific players. It was a shock.
The ‘front office’ announced there would be no team captain for the rest of the season.
Brilliant, and the ‘why’ has nothing to do with hockey.
What the coach did was exactly what good teachers do; let the players (or children) work it out or figure it out for themselves. Easy? No! It’s far easier to be the boss/coach/teacher and direct what will happen. It’s much harder to step back and trust that your team will come together and be…well…a team.
Trust.
That’s the key word. Trust means you have to let go. Letting go is hard. Really hard. Parents know that, and I’m alongside them like the voice of an angel (sometimes a cheerleader) to help them cut those strings. Because if they don’t cut the strings, their children can’t grow.
Children have to just do it, and I’m there to tell them they can. This week Christian learned to put on his difficult shoes, but it took many “You can do it” moments and teacher patience. All the children were already outside, and Christian was still working on his shoes. Oh, how easy it would have been to just do the shoes for him. But no, he persisted, and he did it. The look on his face was joy and sunbeams.
There’s nothing better for a child than ‘I did it!’ That’s how they grow.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
This is the way, and so, so true!
Thank you, Deborah. It is!
And that’s what we have to teach, resilience and independence!
Yes!!
That’s a wonderful comparison! I like Ritu’s resilience and independence. Trust is a powerful word … and one on my list of essay possibilities.
Thank you, Frank. Yes, Ritu was exactly right. And yes, trust is powerful. I look forward to a post of yours about trust.
Marchard being traded to the FL. Panthers was a shock to us too. But the Panthers are my 2nd team, Bruins are my first – so I have mixed feelings.
I know exactly how you feel!
Such a valuable experience for him and a great lesson for all of us. Thanks Jennie!
Thanks, Dan!
your’re so right, Jennie. at all ages and stages, this is so important. the perfect comparison.
Yes, very much so! I’m glad the comparison clicked with you, too.
The Leafs did that a few years ago and the team decided who they wanted to be their captain. It is hard for anyone to step back and let their loved ones, children, etc. make those choices and move forward. Great comparison, Jennie.
I didn’t know the Leafs did the same thing. Good for them! Yes, it’s so hard, but it’s the best way to learn and move forward for anyone at any age. Thanks, Carla. I’m glad you liked the comparison.
That joy, from doing what he (Christian) thought he couldn’t is immeasurable. I wonder how the hockey team will do!
Definitely joy, and immeasurable! The hockey team is better, and hoping to make the playoffs. Best to you, Jacqui.
That is a great comparison. It is often so much easier to just do it yourself, but giving children the opportunity to learn and grow is imperative.
Well said, Darlene. The easy way isn’t always better. I’m glad you liked the comparison.
Wayn to go, Christopher
😀
Lovely post about trust, Jennie. And hurrah for Christian!
Thank you, Diana!
Trust is hard – but you are right that it’s worth the growth, Jennie!
It is, very much so. Thank you, Wynne!
and helping Christian to learn to tie his shoes also requires great patience on the part of the teacher. Hopefully the Bruins will be patient with this “experiment” as well…
Yes, it does. There we were inside while the playground and children were waiting for him. I so wanted to just do it for him – but he did it. Fingers crossed on the Bruins!
three cheers for Christian!
I no nothing about any sports, but I am delighted to see you drawing the comparison with a major team and the principles of learning and growing in the classroom. Those Boston Bruins should give you an advisory role!
Best wishes, Pete.
😀
Another super lesson, Jennie. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, John! P.S. I don’t have a husband because he is completely immersed in Eternal Road. 🙂
He’ll be back after He finishes the last one. Thanks for letting me know he likes the story Jennie.
Oh, he loves the story!
😊
I feel this deep within and SMILE!
I’m so glad!
Such an important reminder for parents!
Yes, very much so!
Reading your post made me think of something one of my principals did for a couple of years. She knew that many of the kindergarten parents were also feeling anxious about dropping their children off on the first day of school. She set up a room for the parents to go with coffee, tea, cider, and donuts where parents could go to talk to other parents who may have been feeling some of those same feelings of separation. One of the other teachers on the staff nicknamed it the “crying room.”
She was a wise principal, because she knew if the parents had a place to be together, they would let go of their children. Win-win. I love the nickname, the ‘crying room’.
I remember Michael struggling to tie shoe laces. It was difficult for him. He did learn how to, and how to knot his school tie.
Persistence pays off, as does letting the child do it alone.
Yes, that was hard for me, but it taught me patience.
Exactly!
Determination toward a goal worth doing. How I adore little kids and their “me do it” attitude.
Me, too!
You are absolutely right Jennie! ❤
Thank you, Debby! 💕
Thank you for the inspiring post Jennie.
You are welcome, Kamal.
🙏🙏🙏
This is most interesting.
I never had kids, but from my experience being one (vague memory) I agree!
Thank you, Jennie!
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Resa
I feel the same way when I finish a project in the house that the better half thought we’d have to call a handyman 😉. Excellent post, Jennie.
Exactly! Thanks, Steve.
Jennie,This clip reminded me of your storyâ¦SteveDaughter reels
Steve, I’m blanking out here. Old age syndrome?
Jennie, should proof read before hitting ‘send’. It should have ended after, ‘story’. Did you see the fishing clip that I sent? The dad wouldn’t help his daughter reel in the fish so she could learn how to do it, herself.
Ah, that story makes perfect sense to the post’s message, except the clip was not included.