Jefferson Press
May 2020 Newsletter
Principal Corner
May Newsletter 2020
Happy May. It has been a spring like none other and it has called on all of our creativity and patience to make this experience positive and meaningful. We want to thank the parents for all the work you are doing. You all know that my favorite saying is “Parenting is not for pansies!” Hang in there and please let your teacher’s know if there is anything we can help with. We really are here to serve and want to do what ever is best for your child and your sanity! School will end in a few weeks and I am hoping that you have found or asked teachers about summer activities or web sites that can help students maintain their “lifelong learning” trajectory.
The following “Love and Logic” spoke to me and I think may be timely at a time when we are all sequestered and hunkering down! Dr. Charles Fay, has been known to say, “Happiness comes from doing great things rather than getting great things.” As true as this statement is, I often wonder how many kids really believe it. Do you run across more and more kids who seem to think that things will be right with the world as soon as they get the newest ______? Or, even more sadly, they believe that absolutely nothing is right with the world because they don’t have the newest _____?
Not to get too philosophical, but if stuff really could make us happy, Americans today would be happier than any group of people in human history. In 2019, the storage industry made $39.5 billion--up 50% from 2010. We have more stuff than ever before but, at the same time, depression and anxiety medications are prescribed at record rates and suicides are increasing at an alarming rate. If possessions are supposed to bring happiness, IT ISN’T WORKING.
On the other hand, you probably know some incredibly joyful people who don’t have a lot of shiny, new stuff. They aren’t fashion icons and they don’t appear to be too hung up on impressing others with what they have. We are blessed to know many people like that and their secret appears to be an UNselfish attitude coupled with lots of acts of service. They feel good when they DO good. We see this so clearly with the youngest among us. Little ones who have learned to love helping out get genuine joy from contributing and serving others.
We’ve all witnessed the opposite. Spoiled kids are… well, spoiled. They bristle at being asked to help or contribute. Their joy is often stolen by longing for things, whining and begging for new things, and not appreciating the things they have. As human beings, when we focus on things, we are really focusing in negative ways—on ourselves.
As we strive to raise children who are happy and emotionally healthy, what can we do about this unhealthy focus on things? We tend to get the best results from four intentional behaviors:
1.
Modeling gratitude for what we have
Kids see and hear us expressing thankfulness for everything—big and small.
2.
Modeling generosity and giving
Kids see us giving joyfully and unselfishly.
3.
Expecting kids to earn things they want
We resist the temptation to just hand our children possessions or privileges; instead we invite them to work and earn those items.
4.
Expecting kids to contribute and do good things
We encourage kids to do good things for others and to contribute to the household and community—just for the sake of doing good for others.
All four are simple but none are easy. However, we guarantee that they will make an enormously positive impact on our kids’ happiness.
Good luck and stay safe falcons! These times will pass and soon this will all be a hazy memory. Make the most of your family time and remember to practice the tools from your “Toolbox”.