Jumping to Conclusions

by Kori Rodley Irons | More from this Blogger

12 Nov 2007 12:30 PM

I am a jumper. It doesn't take much for me to take huge, gigantic leaps in my imagination even though you would think I would have learned that when it comes to my kids, jumping to conclusion almost always makes thing worse!

One of the biggest mistakes I tend to make when it comes to jumping to conclusions-is assuming that past behaviors and choices dictate present and future ones. For example, if one of my children made a questionable behavior choice in the past-then I have a tendency to assume that it is a pattern. There are other ways I get myself into trouble with jumping to conclusions-assuming that the "other person's" story or version is always right (this can apply to teachers, administrators, etc.), and thinking the worst instead of waiting to gather all the facts.

Even though I know that I am not alone and that my tendency to jump to conclusions with my kids is fairly typical, I am still working to find better ways of reacting. Giving them the chance to explain their side of things, refraining from making assumptions on my part, and trying to keep those fearful images at bay are all ways that I am combating the tendency to jump to conclusions. I also try to remind myself that I certainly don't like it when I have been on the receiving end of someone assuming they know the why and how of things and I truly do not want to do that with my own children! Besides, if I do fly off the handle and jump to conclusions, it usually takes us even longer to get down to the bottom of what is really going on and we have to actually work back to find a place of understanding. That can all be avoided if I avoid that big gigantic jump!

Also: Helping Them See Beneath the Surface

Teaching Kids About Practicing

In Praise of Patience

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