When people are in a good mood, the way they speak is probably the way they would like to be spoken to. But the same people would hate, (and possibly be unable to tolerate) the kind of behaviour that is exhibited by them, when they are angry. Very few folks would be willing to be at the receiving end of the kind of actions done, or of the words spoken by them, when angry. It is particularly hard to put oneself in the other's shoes when angry.
But then again, there is always George Bernard Shaw's version of the Golden Rule-- 'Do not do unto others as you would that they should do unto you. Their tastes may not be the same'!
18 March 2012
14 March 2012
I teach in a pre-school; so that means children between 2 1/2 and just 5. The school year is ending and many of them will be going on to regular school. We (the other teachers and I) so enjoy the children and there are so many little things--incidents, expressions, something said--little exploits that we remember about the children. But naturally, since these children are so small, they will usually remember almost nothing from these times.
This was brought to mind recently when I attended the wedding of one our old students. At the wedding there were several other young men and women who had been with us. Now, all of them are tall smart young men and elegant young women. As I craned my head to talk to one of them who towered above me, what I remembered about him was how he used to suck his thumb in a corner during story time(he was 3 then) He naturally can't remember that and I'm sure rather not remember.
Although many of them are now young men and women with responsible jobs, some parents of pre-school kids themselves, unfortunately for them, we taught them when they were almost babies and we remember them from that period in their lives. Hence it can be a little difficult to give them due respect. This is particularly so because so often the little anecdotes we remember about them are usually funny.[:-)]
When each batch of children leave, we miss them and then the new batch comes and we learn to love them. But this time I felt a little sad that the children would remember so little of the fun times spent with us. Ah, but such is life. I only hope that any positive influences they gain from us will remain with them for always.
This was brought to mind recently when I attended the wedding of one our old students. At the wedding there were several other young men and women who had been with us. Now, all of them are tall smart young men and elegant young women. As I craned my head to talk to one of them who towered above me, what I remembered about him was how he used to suck his thumb in a corner during story time(he was 3 then) He naturally can't remember that and I'm sure rather not remember.
Although many of them are now young men and women with responsible jobs, some parents of pre-school kids themselves, unfortunately for them, we taught them when they were almost babies and we remember them from that period in their lives. Hence it can be a little difficult to give them due respect. This is particularly so because so often the little anecdotes we remember about them are usually funny.[:-)]
When each batch of children leave, we miss them and then the new batch comes and we learn to love them. But this time I felt a little sad that the children would remember so little of the fun times spent with us. Ah, but such is life. I only hope that any positive influences they gain from us will remain with them for always.
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