Do You Hear What I Hear?
After a few days away, and following the grueling workout known as P90x, sipping coffee at my local Starbucks just seemed like the best way to relax before starting on my trips to the dry cleaner and the grocery. I was nearly humming a tune in the car on the way here. I had already decided to have a snack of oatmeal. My only other food this morning was a Greek Yogurt (much more protein than regular yogurt), so I was a little hungry and trying desperately to stay out of the drive through at McDonald’s or Sonic.
I came in and placed my order, still giddy with anticipation about being back in a great wifi spot to people watch and surf the Internet. “I’ll have an oatmeal,” I said as I pointed to the sample bowl in the display case, “and a tall Pike Place, please.”
I was caught off guard when he asked if I wanted the oatmeal on a plate. “Sure,” I said a little hesitantly. I thought maybe that might be good since the little paper bowl it comes in gets kind of hot.
I looked down and saw a plate with an oatmeal cookie on it. I had to laugh. The plate question made perfect sense now. “I’m sorry,” I said apologetically, “I meant I wanted a bowl of oatmeal.”
The barrista was so embarrassed by his mistake he forgot to give me my coffee.
It made me laugh at Starbucks, but it also made me think about the number of times I’ve said something to a student only to get a blank stare, or questioning eyes, or just ignored. Why is my first thought usually that the kid just “didn’t get it”? Why don’t I do a better job of understanding that I just didn’t communicate clearly.
It made me think, too, that I do a pretty good job of that as a grandparent dealing with my grandkids. I make sure I explain myself. Why didn’t I do better at that as a parent?
Next year will be the year of clear communication. How about you?