Partnership, Empathy

Walking the Tightrope

As joyful as parenthood is, it can feel like we are constantly walking a tightrope. Balancing the needs of our families and work, among other things, takes energy and time. How can we have more empathy for ourselves and others? How might we set boundaries to help us balance on solid ground? 

With Empathy

According to psychologists, we all have three essential psychological needs: autonomy, competence and relatedness. Showing empathy toward others and advocating for empathy from others has a lot to do with meeting these three needs. This video provides more information on how it connects to the partnership between school and home.

And Healthy Boundaries  

Just like on a map, boundaries help us know where we end and others begin. Healthy boundaries between people and situations help us to see clearly what we carry with us or keep at a distance. They are part of any successful partnership. You will recognize many of the same tips for building empathy and self-care in the strategies for building healthy boundaries. That is because boundaries tell others how to interact with us.  Being honest about what is okay and what is not, and being direct with our feedback to others are two ways we do just that.  You can read about additional ways to set healthy boundaries in the article 10 Ways to Build and Preserve Better Boundaries.

We’re All in This Together

Schools and school personnel want to have boundaries too.  Consider some of the following ways to set appropriate boundaries between school and home. 

  • Wait to send emails until the next morning instead of late at night.
  • Before you reach out to a teacher, consider whether the message might be better coming from your child.
  • Be in touch with  your child’s teacher if homework is a struggle so you can make a plan together.
  • Practice setting boundaries within your own family first. How to Set Boundaries with Family and Stick To Them.

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