PARENTING: How to recover from disappointments

Last year, a friend experienced a difficult situation. Her son scored good grades in Primary Leaving Examinations enough to be admitted to his dream secondary school. However, he was not admitted to that school.

It was a distressing time for mother and son. It took them a year to recover from this disappointment.

With selections for Senior One done last week, there are many children who failed to get vacancies at the schools of their choice and are devastated. Here are tips on how families can handle the disappointment.

TALK TO OTHERS: Talk about your disappointment and why you feel so down. Talk about it with parents, friends, relatives and former teachers who care.

CRY IT OUT: Mourn that expectation which never became a reality. Pain has to be brought to the surface for it to be dealt with properly.

LISTEN TO ADVICE: Listen to the counsel that people who love you are offering, keeping in mind that disappointment is a normal part of life.

The way you handle this situation may make you a loser or a winner.

GET STRENGTH: Decide that the disappointment is not going to kill you, but will make you stronger at heart and mind.

SHARE WITH GOD: Talk to God about the disappointment of not joining that dream school. Remember God knows the plans

He has for you; ask him to open doors for you to get good connections, to prepare for you good friends in whichever school you may be joining.

MAKE CHOICES TOGETHER: Children need to make a choice with their parents and guardians guided by a criteria that focuses on academic support, spiritual nurturing and where you will grow your talents and gifts.

GIVE YOUR BEST: Give your academics the best you can. You can excel in another school even if it was not your your first choice.

8USE IT AS A SPRINGBOARD: The disappointment you get can be a springboard for great things, it depends how the challenge is handled.

Mama Tendo