All through life, your kids will encounter people they have difficulty getting along with. How will they handle it? Will they be the better person or raise a fuss? Will they give up due to obstacles placed in their path, or will they triumph, despite the odds? Much of that depends on how you teach your kids to deal with the difficult people in their lives.
Your kids will encounter vengeful people. They will learn that sometimes speaking their mind will turn people against them. There will be people who make their lives miserable, just because they reported them for an injustice, or called them on a wrong doing. That's OK. If you teach your kids to move on and not seek revenge in return, their lives will be much easier.
Your kids will encounter bullies. These people seem bent on making other people suffer because of their own insecurities. Handling a bully is difficult, but not impossible. Some might tell you to advise your kids to ignore bullies. That does work sometimes. Other solutions might involve making the bully feel better about themselves. When teaching kids about bullies, it's sometimes best to seek professional advice. Every bully is different. You never know how each might react.
Your kids will encounter cliques. We're not just talking about in school. Throughout their adult life, they will find themselves in and out of the in crowd. What's the best way for your kids to handle difficult people who won't let them into their inner circle? Teach them to make their own circle. Better yet, teach them to be themselves, whether they are social butterflies or not.
Your kids will encounter many difficult people who block their creativity. They may be jealous of their success or their independent spirit. Why not teach your kids to befriend these people? Show them the really important things in life, such as acceptance, kindness and positivity. Who knows? Your kids may convert some stodgy, rigid, opinionated, difficult people into happiness gurus like yourself.
Teach your kids to deal with difficult people by example. Don't be a push-over. Do be a harbinger of peace. Treat people the way you would like to be treated. Life isn't about making the other people around you feel as bad as possible. It's not a competition to see who gets the last word. It's about lifting each other up to make this world a better place for great kids like yours.
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