The cost of the unknown

For the past year, I’ve been working part-time as a nutrition counsellor. The reasons I chose to embark on this journey were to:

1)    Become a better coach.

2)    Get out of my comfort zone.

3)    Expand my knowledge in the health & wellness field.

4)    Serve others.

So far, I’ve learned many lessons. The one I carry most in my mind is how we have limited knowledge of what others have gone or are going through.

In my role, I am fortunate to provide a safe space for clients to share or unravel past or current obstacles.

As educators, our undisrupted time with the children is limited. We’re busy caring, helping and navigating our days with them.

Sometimes children’s behaviours cause us additional stress. And when it persists, it becomes difficult.

Without changing what they did or said, how we perceive or approach them matters.Because underneath the behaviour lies a frustration.

On a Friday, a co-worker shared with me how a school age child found his sibling dead at home. This trauma will be with him forever. And his behaviours are starting to flare up at school and daycare.

At first the educators were upset with him. They believed he was doing it on purpose.

But underneath the surface was trauma. Once the consultant shared this information, the educator’s mindset shifted. And so did their responses.

This is an extreme example of the cost of the unknown.  

Although we can’t prevent or change hardships for others, we can show up empathetic, curious, and kind.

And if we notice we become triggered by a child’s behaviour, we can ask ourselves “why”.

Maybe we’ll notice we’ve pushed down a memory that was painful. This information helps us unpack our unknowns. And when we do this, we can show up differently for ourselves too.

With all my love,

Alex