Pay Attention

I think it’s an unspoken understanding that we, as humans, want other people to pay attention to us. Though sometimes we many want to remain unnoticed, most of time we want to be seen and heard. Children demonstrate this fact loudly and openly when they act out to receive attention. Teenagers demonstrate this fact loudly and openly when they film themselves doing ridiculous stunts in hopes of becoming a YouTube sensation. Adults demonstrate this fact loudly and openly when we leave passive-aggressive or cryptic messages on Facebook. Truth be told, sometimes the lines of action between children, teenagers, and adults get crossed so blurrily that adults end up acting out like children.

As a human teacher, then, it’s no surprise that I want my students to pay attention to me. I want them to listen and learn and I want them to gain knowledge and information that will help shape their lives in a positive way. This is always my hope—to be heard—but oftentimes I get the impression that my students hear more of the teacher in Charlie Brown than they do me…especially when it comes to the morning announcements.

So this afternoon when one of my students repeated something I’d said on this morning’s announcements, I smiled.

I gave a shout-out to a 2nd grade boy who showed kindness yesterday. He was one of my helpers but sat down and started to find his page number before realizing that he’d forgotten to give his neighbor a book. Just as he got up to get the missing book, he realized that he could give her his book—open to the proper page—and get himself another book. He was very sweet and chivalrous with his actions and had no idea that I was watching him. I told that little

Just as today’s helpers were finishing book distribution, one of my helpers came to my desk and said, “I forgot to give Alex a book so I gave him mine and got myself another one.” I inwardly smiled and said, “Well that was very nice of you. You just showed kindness, just like I gave a shout-out for on the announcements this morning.” She proudly nodded her head, grinned, and walked back to her seat.

Just the other day, I posted a Stephen Sondheim quote that says, "Careful the things you say; Children will listen. Careful the things you do; Children will see and learn. Children may not obey, but children will listen. Children will look to you for which way to turn; To learn what to be. Careful before you say 'Listen to me’; Children will listen."

They really do listen.
They really do pay attention.
And they really do just want us to pay attention to them.
And they are us.
And we are them.
Children. Teenagers. Adults.
Wanting to be seen and heard.