Dr. B – What has happened with your daughter’s (climate change) anger and urgency?
Parent A – She’s channeling it into action. (pause) That won’t get her expelled from school.
Dr. B – You’ve done a nice job of joining her in her world and supporting her growth.
Parent A – Joining? Growth? I just wanted her to quit blaming me for ruining the planet.
Dr. B – You are being too modest.
Parent A – Am I?
Dr. B – Instead of getting defensive, you listened and empathized. Instead of reassuring her, you acknowledged the seriousness of the problem (climate change). Instead of telling her one person can’t make a difference, you empowered her. And, instead of siding with the school when she broke the rules, you helped her analyze her actions, define her goals, and find more effective ways to achieve them.
Parent A – You are not usually this complementary.
Dr. B – What are you going to do next?
Parent A – Were you the parent who was never satisfied?
Dr. B – I’d like to think I was the parent who recognized potential and encouraged growth.
Parent A – Whatever. (pause) My daughter has inspired me.
Dr. B – With guilt?
Parent A – Forget what I said about you being complementary. I think what she has done is made the whole family much more conscious of the threat of climate change and how much it impacts our lives and my kids’ futures.
Dr. B – Sounds like you helped her make good use of her anger and urgency.
Parent A – You mean help her not get kicked out of school?
Dr. B – There’s nothing better than finding something you are passionate about AND gives you a sense of purpose.
Parent A – Passion and purpose? I guess sounding the alarm about climate change does that for her.
Dr. B – You think it’s a passing fancy?
Parent A – Not a chance.
