Why can't I focus? And, why can't you?

Do you ever feel like you are just a tad ADHD? Like, when you show up to work, you have an agenda of 5 things to get done before the doorway to your child care center turns into a parade route. But, before you know it, your time is up and you are able to cross off maybe 1 of your 5 things? What is that? And, doesn't it make you so mad??

Sometimes our focus just doesn't match our to-do list, and we end up frazzled instead of productive... great start to the day, right? Now you are your own "challenging behavior."

What could it be that makes us so scattered?

Could it be that something going on at home keeps popping up in your mind, even though it's the last thing you want to think about? What about money- will you have enough to pay that June electricity bill? Or your marriage- is something your husband said this morning re-playing in your mind? What about your kids- are Billy's struggling grades in math and social studies going to send him back to do 4th grade again next year? Why is he doing so badly, anyway?

Wow, we have so many roles. And, each of us is only one person! With a mind full of real-life things going on, it's no wonder we have trouble getting things done.

But, you shouldn't let that stuff bother you at work. Keep your work like and personal life separate.

...is that really possible? NO!

Our personal lives are always going to affect our work lives whether we like it or not. Because even though they are separate areas of life, they are all parts to the same whole. When one part takes up more room, the others have to adjust. When there are more people on the road, traffic slows to a crawl. When you have too many windows open on your laptop, your computer stops responding... you with me?

So, we can't ignore it. We have to deal with what is real in the moment in order for other things to get accomplished.  

Take a deep breath. No, you can't spend time at work lost in thought...  so acknowledge what is bothering you, make a note, and set aside a time when you will deal with it. Now, you have a plan. Now, you can focus on work.

If we can't expect our own problems to go away when we walk into a classroom, how can we expect that of the children?

 
Remember how every challenging behavior has a root... get down on the child's level. Figure out what the root is. Deal with it now, or let them know how you will deal with it later. Either way, offer your support. Otherwise, you are going to have one unfocused and frustrated kid alllll day long. You make the choice.

But what does that really look like? Have some ideas for ways to help children manage their emotions to avoid meltdowns? Please comment and share! This is also what we will be tackling in the next post, so be sure to tune back in for more!

-Lillian, and the CCC team