I talked with a frustrated parent the other day, her child had been labeled as a disruption. At her wit's end, she confided that she knew deep down her child was not a failure like the teacher had declared. She had high hopes and aspirations for her child and saw talent and worth where the teacher only saw a talkative restless child.
I pulled out this list that someone gave me long ago (source unknown) to share. It had calmed my fears then, and continues to give insight now.
Is your child's behavior a problem or a strength?
How YOU perceive a behavior may hinder or enhance it's real meaning.
Problem
Strength
quiet
Inner directed
bossy
Good director/leader
clingy
Connected
tattle tail
Justice seeker
stubborn
Focused/committed determined
fussy about food, clothing
Discriminating
talks back
Courageous/honest
too talkative
Relates well to others
Finicky eater
Future gourmet/discriminating
Doodles
Creative
Dawdles
Easy going
Nosey
High curiosity
Non-conformist
Likes attention/independent/
Assertive/persistent
Mouthy
Expressive
Spoiled
Loved
Mean
Power-seeker
Crabby
Speaks out needs
Wants attention
Speaks out needs
Sneaky
Inventive
Compulsive
Efficient
Silly
Fun loving
Goofy
Untamed creativity
Loud
Expressive
Plain
Natural
Shy
Inner directed
Timid
Careful
Dependent
Connected
Domineering
Charismatic
Conceited
Self loving
Fearful
Careful risk taker
Rigid
High sense of order
Guarded
Watchfully observant
Hysterical
High level of emotion
Troublemaker
Bored/sees the activity as irrelevant
Jokester
Highly intelligent/looks at things in new ways
Day dreamer
Optimist/future thinking
We all know a Brianna who was fussy about her clothes and later worked in a clothing store, (besides looking great all the time!) Or, Tom who was always domineering, and now runs his own successful business.
Your stubborn child may use that intense focus to become a successful athlete or the child that is compulsive in her school work now excels in her very detail-orientated accounting job. Often we must see beyond the world's immediate judgment of our child and recognize their strengths to build them into the men and women they were meant to be.
You can leave your thoughts, comments or suggestions here on my feedback page. Thanks!
- Kari