Lo Siento

Lo Siento

In one of my very first Spanish classes in high school, we learned to say, “I’m sorry — Lo siento.” At the time, I thought that this was a very strange phrase to learn. Wouldn’t “Hello,” “Goodbye” or “Where are the bathrooms” be more useful? 

Now, we get around, that is, we follow our very mobile children around and they get around. We have visited many countries and knowing how to say “I’m sorry” has come in handy.

You’ve heard the term “Ugly Americans.” Americans have what is perceived as an arrogant attitude in many countries. We treasure our individual rights so much that we sometimes forget the collective rights of others. We can be loud. We can be pushy. We demand. We insist. We order. We assert our right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” wherever we go. What we perceive as our “right” is sometimes perceived as our “rude” in other countries. 

Our daughter spent three years in Namibia, Africa working for the Peace Corps. In her second year, we went to visit her. We had a grand time. We met all of her wonderful Namibian friends. Everyone offered us their best — their homes, their food, their help. The village celebrated our visit with a great feast.

The next morning, our daughter crawled into the house where we were staying. She had been violently ill all night. We drove her through the desert to the doctor. The doctor ordered tests which must be done immediately.

In Namibia, the doctor sends the patient to a clinic where samples are taken and then the patient takes the samples to a laboratory where they are analyzed. My husband and I were frantic by this time. Our daughter was very ill and we were in a strange country where we didn’t speak the language. We drove from the doctor’s office to the clinic to the lab in near panic.

When we pulled up to the lab, we saw a large crowd sitting on the lawn outside. A sign on the door said, “Open 2:00.” I looked at my watch and saw that it was 2:00, opened the door and walked right in. We left the samples and walked out the door. That’s when it hit me. We had just walked past dozens of patients politely waiting for the clinic to open. I looked at the crowd but didn’t know the words for “I’m sorry.” I apologized in English and got back in the truck. I’ve never felt more like the “Ugly American.”

“I’m sorry” are two words we don’t use enough. We often inadvertently offend others. Even in the good old U.S.A., we can be “ugly.”  We butt in line. We ignore signs. We are rude to sales clerks. We are so caught up in our own agendas that we forget others’ needs. The patients on the lab’s lawn haunt me still. I see them whenever I want to assert my “rights.” In my mind, I have apologized to them hundreds of times. I  wish I had had the right words when I needed them.

Wherever you travel, learn a few words in the local language. “Hello! Goodbye. Please. Thank you. Where are the bathrooms? I’m sorry.” Like the villagers in Namibia, offer your best.  

School Supplies

School Supplies

Every year, students march into their classrooms armed and ready to learn.  That is, they and their parents have succumbed to the many bargains the variety stores have foisted upon them and outfitted themselves with new book bags, notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons, highlighters… the list goes on and on.

Teachers love seeing children march in all scrubbed and ready. Children's smiling faces inspire teachers to do their best to fulfill all of their many expectations. For the next ten months, they will educate, encourage, and exhort, supporting each child on their journey to knowledge and independence. But teachers never forgot their students’ first and most important teachers — their parents.  

Parents begin teaching their children many years before primary school begins. From the first moments of life, parents educate by word and example. Their students, the children they love and care for, soak up all that their parents teach them. 

You all know the old saying, “Little pitchers have big ears.” Kids have big eyes too. They watch and listen carefully and mimic what their parents do and say. That’s why parenting is such a big responsibility. Professional educators always stand second in line as conveyors of knowledge and wisdom.  

Teachers appreciate all the prep work parents have done for their students. They know that most parents mindfully teach their children academic and life skills as well as moral values. This is hard work and some parents worry that they may not be doing enough. 

Some school supplies don’t come from a store. I’d like to offer some suggestions to help prepare your child for school.  

Read to and with your child. It doesn’t matter what you read, do it with gusto. Make up funny voices for the characters. Discuss the story as you go along. What moral values does Goldilocks have (or lack?) What about those Three Bears? 

Read by yourself. Show that reading is enjoyable and necessary. Do the unthinkable — read the instructions. Be a frequent flyer at the library. Get books for yourself as well as your kids. Value books. Buy books. Share books. Talk about books with the whole family.  

Talk with your child. Studies show that some parents only talk to their children for about eight minutes a day and most of that is instruction or correction. Take time and have a real conversation. Don’t worry about the subject. The kids will fill in the details. 

           

Don’t ask, “What did you do in school today?” Ask, “What did you enjoy? What didn’t you like?” Share your ideas. Discuss events. Children’s insights about world events are surprising. Share feelings. Remember to be appropriate; youngster’s emotions bruise easily.  

Think with your child. Talk about the problems you need to solve every day. What time do I need to get up in order to be ready for school? How much food will our puppy eat in a month? What can we do to help Grandmom and Grandpop? How can we find out more about the new device we are planning to buy? What are the most important qualities a leader should have? What are our family’s values?   

Book bags wear out, pencils break and new shoes are outgrown. Lessons learned at a parent’s knee last a lifetime. Make those lessons count. Read, talk, and think with your children and know that you have prepared them well.