On Thursday one of the counselors and myself were in a meeting with a parent to discuss her son’s latest behavior. Our counselor began speaking and then I continued. We tried giving the mother some time to digest what we were saying. The mother started speaking about her son’s brains and about how it controls him. Our counselor quickly jumped in and explained what was really happening to him and told her what she needs to tell him the minute he says what he says.
Right then and there I started having many thoughts, “Oh my, do I need to take a few PD workshops on children psychology? To understand how the brain works for an infant? To learn more about the human body and how it operates? And and and…” Clearly I had no clue how to respond to that mother had I been alone in this meeting without our counselor. Our counselor continued speaking to the mother to get the child tested for this specific reason and wrote down the name of the tests so that we could take it from there. I didn’t know the name of that test she wrote down nor that it even existed. So she continued speaking and coming up with strategies for his behavior. This mother was very supportive and listened to us without getting defensive over her son or blaming us for anything.
Once the mother left, we debriefed and took action notes. I then went quiet and told her, “THANK YOU for being with me today! You made me realize I need to take some courses on counseling or psychology to better understand how children’s minds work.” She smiled and said, “really?!” I explained to her why I went quiet for a few minutes. I told to her that I didn’t even know such tests exists in today’s world.
I think my next step is to start taking a few courses on counselling/psychology. I mean an educator can never take enough courses nor take in more information correct? This meeting made me open my eyes wider and made me realize what I lack understanding in.
