Michael Thompson spent much of his time explaining why adults should let most of this work itself out.  As he explained, “Often your child will come home and tell you about an incident that took place at school.”  It is important to remember that you are only hearing one side of the story and it is told from a child who wants to please you.  When you hear about how another child hurt your son or daughter, it can be very upsetting to you.  The next day, your child goes back to school and may end up playing peacefully with this same child who hurt them yesterday – all is forgotten between the children.  You, however, are still worrying about your child.  When they come home that second day, you immediately ask them about the person who had hurt them.  They now begin to realize that they have cornered your full attention and that this is something you care about so they either become very vague about the day and the other child or they point out something else that their “enemy’ did that was not nice…and so it goes.  By showing too much interest and concern, we have created a “mountain out of a molehill.”  In the course of a day, there are numerous little incidences that occur between children and this is all natural.  Our children learn to deal with them if we acknowledge their hurt and show confidence that they will be able to work through it.

This reminded me so much of my daughter’s college years.  She always called me when something went wrong whether it was in a class, a friendship or a boyfriend.  She would be crying and I would try to console her and give her advice.  Then I would worry about her for the next few days.  I would mull the scenario over numerous times in my mind, losing sleep and wondering how she was handling everything.  A few days later, I would call her back and she would say, “Oh Mom, it was nothing” and then she would go on to tell me about something exciting that was coming up on campus!  It is easy to say, “Relax and let go,” but it is not always easy to do.

I bought a copy of both of Michael’s books, so if you are interested in borrowing one just let me know.

The last mail in for Box Tops is February 28th so clean out those drawers and turn in your box tops to the Lower School Office.  This is the last check we will receive toward our climbing ribbon wall. Thanks to all of you who have contributed, and to Cathy Lauring who has been kind enough to collect, count and send in all of these box tops.

Uniform fleece are now available in the MPA Spirit Shop.  Youth sizes are $27 and adult sizes are $32.

Conferences seemed to go very well.  Thank you for taking the time to come to school and talk about your child.  This is extremely important to both your child and her/his teacher.  Good communication is the basis for a good relationship.

There are no classes or Panther Club on Monday, February 19th.  It is Presidents’ Day and the school is closed.   

The Girl Scouts will be selling cookies after school on Tuesday the 20th and Thursday the 22nd.  If you have not ordered any cookies, you can buy a box at school.

The third grade students will be putting on their annual Poetry and Pastries event on Friday, the 23rd.  As a culmination to the unit on foods around the world and kitchen chemistry, each child has selected a poem about food and will recite it this Friday.  It takes place from 9:00-10:30 a.m. in the Gallery.  Good luck to all as they work on the memorization of their poem.

If you missed the 3/4 Choir Concert last week, you missed quite an experience.  Our 3/4 Choir joined the Upper School Chamber Choir and the combination of those deep, mature voices with our young, lilting voices was something to hear.  You actually have another chance to experience a portion of this concert because our 3/4 Choir will open the Upper School Concert on February 28th at 7:30 p.m. They have been invited to join the Chamber Concert at their Upper School Concert that evening.  You are welcome to come and stay for just their song or the entire concert.

Hope your Valentine’s Day went well.  Ours was a sea of red and pink!