In my last post, I reminisced about those early days of a brand new principal position, and today’s post is another You Can’t Make It Up! moment from that same time. It involves a trip to the local big-box store, a persistent child, and a surprise encounter with a colleague at the most unexpected moment.
New Beginnings
Whenever you land a new job, there is a significant time of transition involved – some of you may be experiencing that time of change this summer as you settle into a new community, a new house, and, in many ways, a brand new life.
As part of the transition process, first impressions mean a lot – the ones you make on others and the ones they make on you! As the old adage goes, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression!”
I was in my early thirties when I first became an elementary principal and joined a very veteran staff of teachers. Many of them had been teaching for twenty-five years or more and had spent many of those years together in our school.
I had briefly met many of them at a meet-and-greet event, but I did not know their names much less remember their grade levels.
Fast-forward to our first week in our new community. My contract started on July 1st, and we had just moved into our new home. Now that we were living closer to my hometown, I thought having a giant Fourth of July party with our friends and relatives would be a great idea. Birthdays, anniversaries, and big holidays all fell during the same week – so what better time? That’s not stressful at all, right?
Cue the Meltdown
In preparation for the big event, we made a trip to the local big-box store to load up, and in the process, my younger son took off for the toy aisle. Keep in mind he had just had a birthday two days earlier and was not lacking for new toys. So when he hit the Hot Wheels aisle and started lobbying hard for a new toy, mother and child would soon be toe to toe and nose to nose.
The more I said, “NO,” the louder and more persistent he became, and soon, he was in total meltdown. Through my clenched teeth and growing rage, I began using every behavior management tool in my arsenal and also threw in a healthy dose of a NOT NOW KID tone of voice.
How Nice To See You!
Just as I scolded my kindergartener in a slightly louder voice, a familiar face rounded the corner in aisle five, and I went from a “Mean Mom” face to a “Hey, Great To See You” smile in about three seconds flat.
The familiar face was none other than the most experienced, amazing kindergarten teacher I would ever have the privilege of working with! And who did she think I was? The meanest mother of a kindergarten child ever! She immediately went into “kindergarten speak” with my child, and “teacher whispered” him into acting like a model citizen! You Can’t Make It Up!
Of all the stores and all the aisles in the whole town, she just had to be near the Hot Wheels!
We made it through the check-out line and out to the car, where my child got a healthy dose of “redirection instructions” for the next time we went into the store. I tried not to think about how I would ever convince this teacher to listen to me and anything I said related to children, and instead, I went about getting ready for thirty of our closest friends to descend!
Key Takeaways:
- Kids will be kids, and meltdowns are a part of life. Prepare for the unexpected and have a plan to manage those public tantrums calmly, particularly when the people around you may be more interested than you would like them to be!
- You never know who you’ll encounter in a new place, especially at the worst possible moment. Always be prepared to be recognized and noticed when you’re in public. If you think you can just “run in and out” of a store, you’re mistaken.
- Meeting new people and making a positive first impression can be stressful. Take deep breaths, stay composed, and remember that everyone understands the challenges of transitioning into a new role. Enjoy it, and don’t be afraid to ask people to repeat names to help you remember.
- Reflecting on experiences that were stressful for one reason or another can provide valuable lessons for future encounters. Use moments of frustration as opportunities for growth – it’s just part of the deal.
- Balancing personal life and professional responsibilities during a transition can be overwhelming. Prioritize tasks, ask for help when needed, and remember to take breaks to avoid burnout. You don’t have to do everything all at once!
If you’ve ever had one of those You Can’t Make It Up moments as you’ve moved to a new location and a new role, drop me a line or share a comment below! We’ve all been there, and a little humor helps us to keep going for the long haul!
Have a great week!
Jane