Conflict

We were asked to reflect on conflict, and as I always tell my students that automatic writing is the way to find  out what you really think, I used it for this exercise. This is what I found...

 I HATE conflict. It reminds me of rows between my parents and I’ll walk a mile around the houses before getting involved. I hear conflict as if the words are smothered under blankets leaving only the rise and fall of emotion. blood rushes to my ears and I can’t concentrate. I don’t think quickly enough to be able to respond; I’m in awe of the quick wit of a proper row. 

With children though, I find it a pain. I’m very confidant about how to resolve it, and I’m able to command enough authority to keep the focus on me. I can usually turn it into something creative, and I’ve done it enough times now to grow my confidence. I should welcome it as a creative stimulus, a point at which we jump off the bridge and run with something new.

At home, I try to talk it out. Again, I find it a pain but I know that we’ll always win through. Again, I’m the leader and I wish someone older and wiser than me would sort it out – just once! I’m training my 15 yr old.