Complaining About Homework
Mark,
I wanted you to know that something finally broke with my son. He began the same way out with his math on Tues. morning. "I don't know it, it is too much for my mind," and on and on. So I took him seriously and sat down with him. Of course, he didn't want that. He just wanted to be angry and sit for 2 hours saying he couldn't get it, while guessing and sitting. So I took a look at it and knew that he knew it and again I'm dumbfounded that he is saying he doesn't get it. Finally I just showed him how to do what I knew he knew and he just said, "Oh!! That's how! Thanks!" We worked some of the problems out together and he went on and did it all very well and easily. I hugged him and kissed him and told him how proud of him I was that he was able to change the direction he was clearly going. He admitted it was a bad attitude.
It hit me this morning that the difference was me "helping" him instead of leaving him to himself, which is what I have been doing. I will try to help more even when he doesn't need it. It really doesn't make sense to me, to sit and help someone who doesn't need it and even says he doesn't want it, but if it will help him, I'll do it.
Thanks for listening!
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Dear Mom:
You just tapped into the power of influence! This is what God does for us. We, for whatever reason (tired, lonely, ill, hungry) birth a bad attitude and God gently convicts but always supports--lifts us out of despair. You have just come along side your son and lifted him out of his despair. The reason for his attitude is not important. The fact that you were able to lift him out is everything. You took him seriously and won his heart. You showed him how without a critical spirit and opened the door of communication. Oh the wisdom of God--works every time!
Mark
