Time of being social

Well, I was planning on spending my one hour by myself writing here, but saw my neighbor and asked her how she was. Turns out she had major issues in her life and needed to talk. While I was eager to get home and do some of my own stuff (Yes, there’s also a pile of dinner dishes in the sink), I enjoyed listening to her, and giving her my time and sympathy. And it occurred to me that teens need that also. When they come in to the library and start to tell me about their personal lives, I stop what I’m doing and listen. I ask questions. In fact, I try to ask them questions preemptively. A sports sweatshirt, or a suit on game day (a tradition at our school) will prompt a discussion about their team; a fruity moisturizer sparks another. I model interpersonal competence for them so that they can act with empathy and sensitivity to others in turn.