Recently, a mom at my kids preschool caused a ruckus. She thought parent-teacher conferences should be held in the early am, felt the music was too loud and lights too bright at nap time, and was upset that her toddler wasn't spoon-fed. The mother did not address any official at the school about these grievances, but instead created an online group for concerned parents to discuss.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_eeMn6r7EcmHGDhsl-l5nemJRVbgl_vP-48p2aAb-5UD40Fo1Ge4_GcDzzOCa3cqHd9DxCpvj2HBIanbK-mOc7LsG3NOKQiPKP2bfssB9s7j2SSxZ_ELkA7PKZ7W6oqem7Lo0f5mnZw/s200/Fox-In-Hen-House-1.jpg)
Why not take the biggest critics, the most vocal opponents, and make them the owners of the very process they have a problem with? Wouldn't a fox know best how to protect the hen house?
A leader would still have to provide guidelines, support, resources, and (maybe a bit more than normal) monitor as they would for any 'owner.' But I see a questioning of the status quo that might be helpful and a possible resolution that could be supported unanimously.
My guess is this mother would argue her child won't get nourishment unless they are spoon-fed. And my hope is that others would help her see that preschool is a time to learn to grow up. A time to learn that if you are hungry you can't always rely on being spoon-fed.
For someone who finds problems, making them responsible for a successful resolution could drive the best results. Maybe this means changing what is accepted. Maybe this means this person discovers the path to success is different than they imagined, becoming a new advocate and eliminating resistance. Maybe they don't like these options and leave. All good results I say.
What problems to you see with this plan? I don't know yet what will happen with our school board, or with music at nap times - but my kids seem to be eating fine by themselves.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2twPdypg5iA2JhamRQphKd43ayYg2QGrkvJrt8PrYVamqKbDuhJMrEJSXhiqtKCBVGXrH-bggdyonw5lP3pkNOOCZVwbfWmdmonMBBiotcbVjIshNoayVIGN6D6tIWnLpbZUzDlhXUM/s200/kid+eating.jpg)
My guess is this mother would argue her child won't get nourishment unless they are spoon-fed. And my hope is that others would help her see that preschool is a time to learn to grow up. A time to learn that if you are hungry you can't always rely on being spoon-fed.
For someone who finds problems, making them responsible for a successful resolution could drive the best results. Maybe this means changing what is accepted. Maybe this means this person discovers the path to success is different than they imagined, becoming a new advocate and eliminating resistance. Maybe they don't like these options and leave. All good results I say.
What problems to you see with this plan? I don't know yet what will happen with our school board, or with music at nap times - but my kids seem to be eating fine by themselves.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2twPdypg5iA2JhamRQphKd43ayYg2QGrkvJrt8PrYVamqKbDuhJMrEJSXhiqtKCBVGXrH-bggdyonw5lP3pkNOOCZVwbfWmdmonMBBiotcbVjIshNoayVIGN6D6tIWnLpbZUzDlhXUM/s200/kid+eating.jpg)