A new year is upon us and it is impossible to know what joys and challenges are in store for each of us. Responding to the happy and positive events which occur in our lives doesn’t require a lot from us. However, learning to respond productively to the disappointments, challenges, and storms of life does take special skills. It is important that we begin at an early age to prepare our children for the challenges they will inevitably face. We must help our children develop the skill set necessary to tackle difficulties when they come face to face with those problems.
I stumbled upon a blog written by an experienced life coach who quoted Wilma Mankiller, the first ever female Chief of the Cherokee Nation. Mankiller said, “Cows run away from a storm while the buffalo charges toward it - and gets through it quicker. Whenever I’m confronted by a tough challenge, I do not prolong the torment, I become the buffalo.”
What a powerful image! Can you visualize a herd of bison steadfastly and slowly moving toward a dust storm blowing across the plains rather than stampeding away from the storm? Now visualize your child, facing whatever their own personal difficulty might be. Putting his/her head down, facing the storm head on - not running away, but rather finding a way, perhaps little by little, through that difficulty. A child who is a buffalo - who can face a problem head on - will develop resilience and grit. These are key characteristics for success in any avenue of life.
Children develop confidence in their own abilities when they are able to resolve problems on their own. Knowing that parents will be there for support and encouragement, and will assist them if it is necessary, helps build in our children the courage and boldness to tackle the challenges which they face. We can’t raise strong children if we suggest that they avoid challenges or we make excuses which allow them to run away from problems. Rather, we must model for our children that difficulties and problems are part of life and are best handled by working through them. As adults, it may be health issues, financial pressures, or relationship issues which we must face head on. For our children, it may be a school assignment, not making a varsity team, or the loss of a friendship which has created the challenge. Whatever the problem may be, when we are in the midst of a storm, we need to be the buffalo.
I hope that 2018 brings many moments of happiness and pleasure to you and your family and that the storms of life are minimal. If challenging problems and adversity do cross our paths in 2018, may we all serve as positive role models to our children by being the buffalo.
If you have any questions or comments about the information and opinions expressed in this edition of The School Bell, please contact Cindy Zahrte, District Administrator, by email or 374-7002.