A couple days ago, my MSN browser provided me with this link:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38417221/ns/health-kids_and_parenting
Since I was procrastinating washing dishes and folding laundry, I clicked.
The article is titled: "Healthiest state for kids? New Hampshire, study says"
Wow! If I were New Hampshire, I would cut that article out and frame it!
But wait. Maybe not.
After the glowing title, paragraph 1 (paragraph one) opens with,
"New Hampshire again ranks No. 1 nationally in an annual survey on children's well-being. But the numbers also indicate a growing problem in the state: poverty."
The rest of the article continues to highlight more problems than accolades for New Hampshire.
It made me chuckle.
Until I realized it's easy to do this with people.
"I really love what you did with your hair..... now if we can just work on your butt, thighs, and floppy arms"....
"Thank you for setting the table, honey. Have you completed any of the 23 things on the Honey-do list,yet? Like I've been asking you for 1,200 months????"
"Thanks for helping Mommy make supper. Now pick up all that water you spilled. It's important to pick up our messes. Speaking of messes, did you clean your room? I asked you to clean your room yesterday! Why can't you be a better listener and obey Mommy? Go to your room."
My point?
I don't know. I think it was all too often I use praise as segue for letting someone know what I'd like them to improve on. Perhaps I should let the praise set up for a bit, before crashing it with negatives or demands.
.... Better go fold laundry, or tomorrow's headline might read:
"Mom Climbs Mountain in only 3 days" .......
followed by paragraph 1 stating: Of course it was a mountain of laundry it took the lazy sloth 3 days to fold."
still reading your blog even though I'm in Denver..always makes me smile!
ReplyDeleteBritt...a great reminder actually. That when we praise/thank someone for a job well done and appreciated, we should just leave it at that. After all, it's what we all would like to receive from someone of importance in our lives. Otherwise, it's like saying, "I'm sorry, but..."
ReplyDeleteGreat insight, Britt. While we should ALWAYS speak the positive (preferably first) when criticizing/disciplining someone it does NOT mean that praise can't stand alone.
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