I’ve developed a fondness for discovering creative ways to implement non-violent resistance…non violent resistance being understood as strategies to resist things that aren’t right, but doing so in ways that don’t accuse or shame or manipulate or humiliate or harm another.
Non violent resistance can be dangerous and requires courage. I saw the movie, Lee Daniels’ The Butler, a few weeks ago that highlights the incredibly courageous non-violent acts of the American Civil Rights movement. I was deeply inspired by this movie.
I saw a parallel in this fellow’s actions to illustrate a powerfully effective point to his daughter…and now the world:
Is this not a totally fun and cool way to make a point?!?
I just love the funny way this dad let his daughter know his feelings in a way that didn’t use words. Sometimes us parents use too many words, don’t we? We forget the value of humour and playfulness.
I love how he made fun of himself, he took the risks to make the point…(out in public in those shorts? Seriously?) …he didn’t use his daughter to make the point to her. That takes courage and some calm distance. Sometimes us parents can get short tempered and our desire to make our children hurt because of what they’ve done trumps our ability to make an effective point.
I love how he merely wanted to be understood…the sort of dad that trusts his daughter to, over time, have his perspective influence her decisions. Sometimes us parents just want to strong arm good behaviour…so she might have been wearing longer shorts on the outside, but on the inside, she was still emotionally wearing short shorts.
He didn’t get an instant response…and he didn’t expect one.
Parenting requires an arsenal of strategies to find ways to inspire children to make the sort of choices that will reflect the best of who they are.
Thanx, Scott McIntosh, for your creative, playful, fun, imaginative…ok, just down right hysterical…modelling!
Write a Comment