Parent – I think we’re going to start home schooling.
Dr. B – I thought you liked your school.
Parent – The teachers are great. It’s what they’re learning outside of the classroom.
Dr. B – Oh. You aren’t crazy about Playground Politics?
Parent – Playground. Hallways. Lunchroom. More like the island in Lord of the Flies.
Dr. B – Not enough adult supervision for your liking?
Parent – Kids can be downright cruel.
Dr. B – So home schooling is your solution?
Parent – Well, it will save a lot of abuse and bullying.
Dr. B – How will they learn to cope with Middle School?
Parent – We can home school right up ‘til college.
Dr. B – Because in college there is no cruel behavior?
Parent – The less exposure at a tender age, the better.
Dr. B – Adults aren’t always around, but that doesn’t mean you can’t know what’s going on.
Parent – How so?
Dr. B – If you create the safety to talk, your kids will tell you what they’re doing and how they’re feeling.
Parent – Go on.
Dr. B – And you can help them problem solve how to handle whatever comes their way.
Parent – I’m not sure I share your confidence.
Dr. B – Well, ask your kid about something that happened. Just be curious and genuinely interested. See what they tell you.
Parent – And then what?
Dr. B – See what sense they make of things.
Parent – What do you mean?
Dr. B – Kids’ brains don’t have all the wiring completed.
Parent – Huh?
Dr. B – Without your help, your child may not be able to consider alternative reasons for behavior. They may not be able to take someone else’s perspective. Or know how someone was feeling. They may have a limited repertoire of responses.
Parent – So, I’m loaning them my prefrontal cortex?
Dr. B – Yeah. That’s exactly what we do as parents. And doing that helps them develop theirs.
Parent – Sounds like a Spock Mind Meld.
Dr. B – You are dating yourself.
Parent – I still say they are safer at home.
Dr. B – Yeah. So are caged birds.
Parent – That was cruel.
