COUNSELING AND CONSULTATION ASSOCIATES, INC.COUNSELING AND CONSULTATION ASSOCIATES, INC.
Phillip L. Blansett, Ph.D.
1621 Eagle Trace Drive
Mount Juliet, Tennessee 37122-7428
(615) 758-7568
Website: http://DrBlansett.com
Email: DrBlansett@DrBlansett.com
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Neighbors Helping Neighbors in Parenting
by
Phillip L. Blansett, Ph.D.
While on vacation last week, I was suddenly confronted with how our society has been invaded with conflicting ideas, and how that directly affects our children. When walking down a sidewalk, on the right side of the sidewalk, I was suddenly face to face with a teen who was going in the opposite direction. But he was walking on his LEFT side of the sidewalk, which put him into nose conflict with me who was walking on my sidewalk's RIGHT. The confrontation was sudden, but intractable. Checking my thumb and forefinger "L's" (an old trick for us somewhat dyslexic types to insure which is my left hand. If the thumb and forefinger form an "L" then its your left hand.") I was reassured. I WAS on the right side of the sidewalk after all. I simply stopped walking, and smiled, as the teen began to be increasingly frustrated when I didn't move out of his way. He was blocked, and would sort of rock back and press forward, but when I didn't yield, he would rock back again. In the back of my mind I could hear some psychobabble teacher telling me I'd better be wary 'else I destroy the boy's self esteem. Then I reminded myself that self esteem wasn't his problem at all. He had plenty. Too much, really. But he wasn't doing well in the frustration management arena. I actually moved out of his way, because I had a foreboding sense that we'd still be there as the sun set if I didn't yield. I turned the corner and entered a food mart. As I started into the entrance that was controlled by electronic doors, I saw that the EXIT was on the right, and the ENTRANCE was on the left. It suddenly was crystal clear. Because of where the stores bought their doors, or because of the convenience of the hydraulic engineering, they had reversed their doors! No wonder "how to walk on American Sidewalks" had deteriorated. I went from the grocery to a clothing store. The clothing store had built their building with double entry doors, but they locked one. The right one on entering. Trying to go into store, I walked up confidently to the right door, read their "PUSH" sign and pushed, A vibration went up and down my spine as I realized that in order to save an employee the trouble of remembering to lock unlock both doors, the right door remained locked. I went out of that aisle to the left door, and entered. As I left the store, I experienced momentary despair and panic as I approached the exit door. Is this the RIGHT door store, or the LEFT door store? What about MY self esteem. No wonder the roads are so messed up, and people are rude. How do we teach our children?
Next week we'll continue to examine how neighbors can help neighbors in parenting.
Dr. Phillip Blansett is a psychotherapist in private practice in Nashville and West Wilson County.
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