“Small is big . . . in more ways than one.” ~ Doc Meek
April 7th, 2011 | 
Author: Thursday, April 7, 2011. Today I am so grateful for parents who teach in small ways and children who learn in small ways. Both end up big in my eyes, and the result is big in lifelong benefits!
Re-shingling image from: http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/roof/maintenance/reshingle/prep/tear_off.htm
|
My Mom is having her roof re-shingled.
This reminds my older sister Anita of the couple who had their own small business re-shingling roofs [rooves? :o].
(One of the big problems when the old shingles are being removed, is the small bits of asphalt shingle and roofing nails that fall into the gardens and lawns and flowerbeds surrounding the house.)
In the summer, when school is out, this couple bring their young child with them (8 or 9 years old).
Anita asks the child, “What are you doing?”
He says: “I am working; my job is to take this can and go all around the house all day and pick up any bits of old shingle or nails that fall from the roof.”
Anita: “That’s good. I can see that is an important job! I am glad you are able to help your Mom and Dad!”
Child: “I have to make sure that I get everything. See? [Shows Anita a bit of tar paper and an “invisible” nail in the lawn.]
Anita: “Wow, you must have really good eyes, eh?”
Child: “Yah . . . and I have to remember to work below the side of the roof where my Dad and Mom are not working.”
Anita: “Why?”
Child: “So nothing falls on my head and hurts me.”
[CAUTION NOTE: THE DAD WOULD CALL DOWN FROM THE ROOF TO HIS CHILD FREQUENTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CHILD WAS PICKING UP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROOF OPPOSITE TO WHERE THE COUPLE WAS WORKING, SO THAT THE CHILD WOULD BE SAFE FROM FALLING OBJECTS!]
Child: “When I am all caught up picking up stuff off the ground, I go skateboarding on the front driveway.” [Kids know how to combine work and play in a way many adults have forgotten.]
Thank you, Anita, for sharing this story of the young worker with us! And thanks to the parents on the roof who know how to help their children learn the value of work in small ways at a young age!
Doc Meek, Thurs, Apr 7, 2011, Sherwood Park, Alberta, CANADA
Posted in learning, learning differences, Learning Difficulties, learning solutions, overcoming learning problems | 
Tags: active learning, brain rules, changing your behavior, changing your mind, Doc Meek, docmeek, Dr Meek, grateful, gratitude, happiness, head heart hands hope, hope, J Collins Meek, J Collins Meek PhD, Meek, self-involvement in learning, success
