The R Word

Parent-teacher conferences. I love them. I love talking with my kids' teachers and hearing about all the great things my kids are doing. My girls are both good students, who have a strong sense of responsibility and understand the importance of education.

So, I was expecting nothing less today, parent-teacher conference day. While the report card grades were excellent, there was one issue with A. Not academic. Respect.

I'm so proud of my girls and their achievement, but I would rather have seen a poor grade than an issue with behavior, especially this type of behavior. For me, there is no excuse for disrespect. Limited achievement, difficultly learning, I could handle. I have plenty of strategies for that. But, disrespect. How do I change that?

I will admit, I'm putting more emphasis on it here, than the teacher did at the conference. The exact statement was, "I'd like her to always be respectful." Me too. We've struggled with this at home for awhile now. But, before this year, it was always a home problem, not a school problem.

Although I know it is crazy, I feel like I have failed somewhere as a parent. Did I teach her that she always has to be right? Did I teach her to argue her point ad nauseam, without much regard for the feelings of others? What type of behavior am I modeling?

I don't like to be wrong, especially when I can't hide the error or it's pointed out to me. I know she gets it from me. Unfortunately, it's in her genes.

What will we do about this? I don't know. There will be conversations. I will need to watch my own behavior. There should also be prayer. Not for a perfect child. For wisdom. For love.