Read one of the case situations to the parents. Ask the parents to review and evaluate the situation. Does this sort of thing happen often? Why? Invite them to share similar examples they have seen.
| The Little League Player |
It seems that Joe Mathews at age 10 had become one of the finest pitchers in his little league. In fact, his team ended up in the playoff game.
Everyone was excited about Joe's ability and the team's performance. Everyone, that is, except Joe's father. Mr. Mathews never once made an effort to attend a game. Joe never really understood this, except that he knew his father was tired, which was most often the excuse given when little Joe would ask his father to go to a game. What made it particularly hard on Joe was that the other boys' fathers, at least most of them, showed up for most of the games.
Finally came the playoff game. By coincidence, a friend of the family stopped by the Mathews house, assuming that Joe's father would be going to the game. Mr. Mathews naturally was on the spot. In order to save face, Joe's father trudged off to the game. Little Joe was thrilled since this was the biggest game and HIS father showed up to cheer the team on to victory. Joe was pitching.
As things sometimes happen, Joe's team lost; in fact, Joe lost the game for the team. He committed an error that allowed the winning run to score. Needless to say, little Joe was not just near tears but was visibly crying as he walked toward the fence where his father was standing. To Joe there were few people in the world at that moment. He stood sobbing before his father. Then came the blow. His father said, rather matter-of-factly, "You really blew that one, didn't ya!" and walked away. Joe walked the other way.
| The Beginning Swimmer |
A young boy spent his entire two weeks at a camp for emotionally disturbed children learning how to dog-paddle. It took a supreme effort, again and again, with help from counselors and campmates. Finally, at the end of the session he made it all the way across the pool.
His parents came to pick him up, and he grabbed their hands, pulling them to the pool to show them what he'd learned. As he jumped in, everybody else gathered round, holding their breath, praying—and he got to the other side. Then he climbed out and turned to his parents to see their response.
And then his mother said, "When are you going to learn the backstroke?"
| The Aspiring Fiddler on the Roof |
Four-year-old Tanya was fascinated by the fiddler on the roof in the movie, Fiddler on the Roof. After seeing the movie, she kept asking her parents to buy her a violin. She insisted she was going to build a shed to sit on and play the violin. In response to her persistent requests, her parents replied that the whole idea was silly. Her grandmother told her she was too young to play a violin and that wanting a shed to play it on was crazy. Her brother scoffed at her and insisted that only men play violins; girls can't. When she tried to borrow some tools from her father and asked him where she could get some wood, he angrily told her to leave his tools alone and to get this silly idea out of her head.
| The Television Kid |
"Don't eat so fast. Slow down and chew your food thoroughly. You are eating like a pig. Quit slouching. You are such a slob. Where are your manners?" Mom is talking to five-year old Amanda. Amanda is hurrying to finish lunch so that she can watch her favorite TV cartoon show. If she doesn't get there quickly, big sister Jenny will claim the TV and the channel changer. Then Amanda will have to watch Jenny's show again. Amanda keeps stuffing the food into her mouth. Mom continues to scold Amanda and remind her that good manners are important for children to develop.
| The Milk Mix-up |
- Jaime reaches across the table to get the catsup for his hamburger. In the process, he bumps over his half-full glass of milk. Dad jumps up and screams, "When will you ever grow up? You're so careless, you can't do anything right."
- Jaime reaches across the table to get the catsup for his hamburger. In the process, he bumps over his half-full glass of milk. Dad says, "Jaime, get the dishcloth and wipe this spill up quickly. When you want something from the other side of the table, ask to have it passed."