Parents on power trips.Character traits like trustworthiness, integrity, authenticity and respect are like "money in the bank" when it comes to dealing with unhappy parents. But dealing with a parent on a power trip takes special care. Here's how to identify and deal with three common types: BULLDOZERS come rolling into your office ready to run over and flatten flatten - To remove structural information, especially to filter something with an implicit tree structure into a simple sequence of leaves; also tends to imply mapping to flat ASCII. "This code flattens an expression with parentheses into an equivalent canonical form." anybody in their vicinity. Listen and let them tell their stories. If you need to interrupt to get them to sit down and stop swearing, do so. Remember the tricks that hikers are advised to use on mountain lions. Look them right in the eye and make yourself look big and powerful. Be firm and forceful, but not hostile or demeaning de·mean 1 tr.v. de·meaned, de·mean·ing, de·means To conduct or behave (oneself) in a particular manner: demeaned themselves well in class. . Talk to a bulldozer not as you would a child but as if you were a slightly bigger bulldozer. Show them respect (once they calm down), and they will turn into kitty cats Kitty Cats was a Canadian show with puppets in 1992-1999. It was on TLC. Characters
JACKHAMMERS never come in with their hammers up and running; they operate undercover, breaking up what you believed were solid relationships and effectively destroying a school community's culture and climate with just a few jabs. Bring them out into the open so other folks can hear and see the damage they are doing. Confront their behavior in quiet but forceful ways. If they are sarcastic with their damaging comments in front of an audience, don't let their inappropriate behavior pass. DUMP TRUCKS are often acting out a more grown-up grown-up adj. 1. Of, characteristic of, or intended for adults: grown-up movies; a grown-up discussion. 2. version of a toddler's temper tantrum temper tantrum Pediatrics A prolonged anger reaction in an infant or child, characterized by screaming, kicking, noisy and noisome behavior, or throwing him/her self on the ground to get his/her way from a parent/caretaker/warden. Cf Adult temper tantrum. . In most cases, a parent who dumps a load of garbage at your office door actually feels threatened or powerless. First get them calmed down, raising your voice several decibels if necessary. If you're meeting with a parent and you feel a tantrum tan·trum n. A fit of bad temper. tantrum, n a sudden outburst or violent display of rage, frustration, and bad temper, usually occurring in a maladjusted child or immature or disturbed adult. coming on, stand up, grip the table and say, "Let's stop right here for a second. I have an idea that might work." That may shock the parent enough to forestall fore·stall tr.v. fore·stalled, fore·stall·ing, fore·stalls 1. To delay, hinder, or prevent by taking precautionary measures beforehand. See Synonyms at prevent. 2. the tantrum. Then try to address the underlying issue or problem. Adapted from How to Deal With Parents Who Are Angry, Troubled, Afraid or Just Plain Crazy, Second Edition CORWIN PRESS, by Elaine K. McEwan. www.corwinpress.com, $29.95 |
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