Comments for I was thinking...

Comment on Lost. Reward if found. by Heidi

Heidi — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:56:51 +0000

Thanks for your comment, Tia!

Yes, I completely agree re: continuing to strive.
One other key piece for me, though, has been to embrace the “failures” or my weaknesses. Not that I enjoy them, or want to do more of them.

But to stop hiding from them, avoiding them, feeling shame about them. Instead, to turn towards each thing that frightens me (and yes, failure REALLY strikes fear in my heart!) and asking “what do you have to teach me? how can you help me?” – appreciating the lessons and moving on. Instead of wallowing in bad feelings.

It feels VERY different to me to turn towards, not turn away. To embrace instead of avoid.

It’s something I hope to instill in my kids too. In time…

(and BTW – you inspire me too! So glad we met!)

Comment on About by Posterous! | It's All About Learning

Posterous! | It's All About Learning — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:23:02 +0000

[...] recently, I had not heard of Posterous. Heidi Hass Gable (@HHG) introduced it briefly to my Study Group before Christmas. As a result, we decided to focus [...]

Comment on Lost. Reward if found. by Tia

Tia — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:06:40 +0000

Hi Heidi,

Thank you for the heart-felt post. I think we’ve all felt this way on our journey at one point or another. The important thing is to keep on keeping on. Keep on learning, growing, and striving to be better than the day before. Striving to be the best, we can be. It’s an ongoing journey that will have ups and downs, steps forward and steps back.

You are an inspiration. Keep on keeping on.
Tia

Comment on About by Robyn Vernon

Robyn Vernon — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 04:18:22 +0000

Hi Heidi,

I too am a parent from Australia and attended a conference on the weekend where funnily enough Danielle Miller was a keynote speaker. I attended a workshop presented by a principal and it ended with your video “What I want for my children”. I know that it moved many parents in the room and there were a few wiping away the tears. I was one of them. What a wonderful, inspiring, poignant video it was. I am presenting at our own School Community Group meeting and will be ending my presentation with your video. It is so important for parents to trust that they have made the right decision about the school they have chosen for their “hearts” and that everyone is on the same page. Our school has been going through some issues and I hope your video leaves parents and teachers alike asking the question “What can I do and am I doing enough”.

Thank you so much,
Robyn Vernon

Comment on About by Kristie

Kristie — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 11:46:51 +0000

Hi Heidi,
I have just returned from a Parents and Friends Conference in NSW Australia where I was fortunate enough to see your video “What I want for my children”
It moved me profoundly- thank you, thank you, thank you. I look forward to reading your blog. It is amazing how small our world is and how wonderful our world is with bloggers like yourself.
Kristie

Comment on Text from “What I Want for My Children” video by Open Educator Manifesto | Connected Principals

Open Educator Manifesto | Connected Principals — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 07:07:18 +0000

[...] “It takes a village to raise a child” and so ‘We’ must communicate, collaborate and coordinate opportunities to authentically work together. We must meaningfully cooperate with all stakeholders in education. Parents (and grandparents) are our partners in education. Businesses are not just future employers, but intellectual and financial stakeholders too. Teacher, support staff, and student unions all have a say. So do school boards and elected officials. ‘We’ can only find success in being open to cooperative ventures and adventures with the common goal of being in and of service to our children. After all, we all want the same things! [...]

Comment on Parenting for failure by Vanessa

Vanessa — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 21:42:13 +0000

(Hey you – need to come out of my hole and reconnect with you soon.)

So very true, and wonderful things happen when you can bring yourself to this point. Phrases I try to use with my kids in situations like this are “Look at your [brother/sister]‘s face. How are they feeling right now? How does that make you feel? Is that what you wanted from this? Can you think of a different way to get what you want?” or: “I really don’t care who created the problem, I want to know who’s looking for the solution.” or “Whether it was on purpose or an accident, we always say sorry.” There’s a big difference between blame and responsibility. I try to stay well clear of the blame game (not always successfully!) and focus on responsibility.
Thanks for sharing your moment. It’s always validating to hear things through another voice.

Comment on Great Expectations by Learning Conversations » Blog Archive » What do you expect for your kids?

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 19:50:25 +0000

[...] In my own experience, one of university professors had a profound impact on my life – just by leaning across the table during my final exam and whispering “I expect great things from you…” http://www.iwasthinking.ca/2007/08/29/about-great-expectations/ [...]

Comment on What I Want For My Children by Jose Paulo Santos

Jose Paulo Santos — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 12:57:55 +0000

Hi, again Heidi
your video is still alive around the world. As you may remember, I’ve contacted you asking your authorization to subtitle it in Portuguese language. It was done 2 years and 4 months ago and it is still available here: http://www.overstream.net/view.php?oid=l6ssere6l3uj.
As you can see, there are more than 78,000 views! Amazing! I get emails from Portuguese teachers, parents, associations saying this message moves people a lot and they share it everyday.
Again: thank you so much!
Best wishes

Comment on About by Parent Involvement – “What’s Your View?” | Angela Maiers Educational Services, Inc.

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 21:08:55 +0000

[...] following exercise proved a powerful way to get the conversations started. Adapted from the work of Heidi Hass Gable on the Parents As Partners Ning. It is called the The "Appreciative [...]

Comment on Everyday Peace by Carlan

Carlan — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 14:47:15 +0000

This is a beautiful post! I am also German/Canadian on my father’s side. I remember the teasing when I was young and how hurtful it was as my father wanted so badly to fight the Germans but was unable to due to physical issues. That told me a lot when he was ready to fight against a heritage he was very proud of. I find Remembrance Day a time of meditation for me; a time to reflect on what has happened and what is still happening; a time to be still.

Comment on the best parenting we do by Chris Wejr

Chris Wejr — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 18:52:50 +0000

Heidi,

I am honoured that you have taken the time to share this with so many people. Thank you so much. I often get so concerned about how I will manage and I think I will just do that… I will manage. I need to remember that I will make mistakes and that I will recover and learn from them. What works for one child may not work for us but we will continue to try. It is all about the little things and I am so excited to be able to share these little moments with my family. I am not sure what else to say other than… thank you.

Comment on Allowing myself to trust by heidi

heidi — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 06:58:07 +0000

Hi Bob!
I have a meetup with you on my todo list as well – so we’ll just have to do it sometime!

It’s funny – not sure what I expected as responses to this post. I just wrote down a few thoughts and hit “post.” But I definitely didn’t expect such wonderful support! Thank you!

I like your comments as well and that I’m in a place to really hear them now – not as criticism, but as honest observations that help me see a perspective I didn’t realize was there. That’s another gift!

Take care and hope to chat soon!

Comment on Great Expectations by Learning Conversations » Blog Archive » Say it loud – say it proud!

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 06:48:53 +0000

[...] I believe in the power of teams. I believe that people want to be a part of meaningful projects. And I believe that everyone wants to rise to your expectations. So why not have great expectations? [...]

Comment on Allowing myself to trust by Bob Cotter

Bob Cotter — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 05:56:43 +0000

Heidi, you and I have never met in person, though it is one of the things on my todo list. This is because you are close to home, have some great postings to twitter, an enjoyable blog to read, and are not a working educator – yet has a powerful understanding of the system and what is needed to improve.

Yes, I do sense negativity in some of your posts. But, I emphasize some and, knowing from others close to me what it can be like to be in your day to day family situation, I clearly understand both the stress that can be there and the need to get it out. As well, I also see the negativity pointed more at yourself and your life, not at the work you are doing to make it better for your children and for the children of others in the community you work within.

So, we may never meet in person, but do clearly understand, that I am a big fan of yours.

Cheers… Bob

Comment on Allowing myself to trust by heidi

heidi — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 05:53:38 +0000

Hi Dave!
You know, I can hear you now…
It used to be harder. I’m starting to “get it” – not just in my head, but in my heart to. To feel it in my body.

Indeed, the key is to trust myself.
To allow uncertainty – trusting that I’ll figure it out, even if I don’t know HOW yet…

And to allow negative feelings and failure – without thinking I have to “fix” myself (as if there’s something wrong with me!)
My dear friend Erika reminds me: Don’t catastrophize things! Allow one bad day just be one bad day – without falling into the fear that “this bad day must mean I’m a bad person” or “I’m a failure.”

Amazing how just “allowing” can change how my whole world feels! It’s the same world, it’s just me that’s different…

Thanks for your comment, my friend! And for your patient support, even when I’m doubting!

Comment on Allowing myself to trust by David Truss

David Truss — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 05:40:04 +0000

I like you Heidi, no pretenses or doubt required!
When I read, The compliments that people gave me not only surprised me, but truly frightened me. What if I can’t live up to that? What if someone expects something that I can’t deliver? What if they find out I’m a fraud?
I thought of the perils of a gifted kid growing up in our ‘current’ (read: last 50 years) educational system. ‘You are special’. ‘You are different’. ‘You can do better than that’.
It is easy for our inner voices to be negative as even when being complimented, there are expectations that are placed on the compliment.
“You are so nice,” becomes ‘I need to always be nice or they won’t think that anymore’, and “You look good today,” becomes ‘What was wrong with me yesterday?’ or ‘Great, now I’ve got to keep that up for tomorrow.’
Trust not in others but in yourself… that way when the real compliments come, you can see them for what they truly are.

Comment on About by Alexandra Canossa

Alexandra Canossa — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 18:22:18 +0000

Dear Heidi,
I simply loved your video about what we want for our childre.
It made me think.
I am a teacher but also a mother.
Thank you.

Comment on Parenting for failure by Richard T

Richard T — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 03:48:56 +0000

It is really amazing how early one can start to have this positive mindset with their wee ones … of course factoring in time dialation due to diaper and vomit duty makes all concepts of linear thought fly out the window … now where did I put that baby powder? …

Comment on I Believe These Things by BCTeacher

BCTeacher — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 02:08:28 +0000

One day there’s a story on the struggles of Canadian families living below the poverty line, then another on my tax dollars being thrown away at bunch of illegal Tamil aliens. Where are our priorities?

Comment on Parenting for failure by Brendan

Brendan — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:58:30 +0000

Love your blog, your candour and your reflective thoughts about parenting. Why is it that our first impulse when the kids fight is to rush in and demand explanations? I know I have to often stop myself – sometimes I fail too – and consciously choose to show empathy and understanding and be calm. It’s so much easier that way, once you’ve begun that approach instead of the other…

Comment on Parenting for failure by heidi

heidi — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 17:12:07 +0000

Hi Jacob!
I’ve been mulling this over for quite a while too – wanting to embrace failure as just a learning opportunity, but tangled up in feelings of failure or self doubt.

I’ve been thinking this morning about schools. What if we approached discipline as a group activity? Instead of addressing one child specifically, what if we worked through every incident as a group? It seems to me that compassion comes from acknowledging that “it could have been me”… And if that is true, then don’t we have an opportunity to ALL learn from ANYONE’s mistakes?

Hmmm…

Comment on What I Want For My Children by Connie Weber

Connie Weber — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 08:52:13 +0000

Heidi,
Wow! I watched your video because Or-tall and David Truss were talking about it on Fireside Learning. I would love to highlight it there, get many people in that community to watch it. Might you consider joining the network and posting the video?
Thank you for your fine work and inspiration.
Connie

Comment on Parenting for failure by Jacob

Jacob — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 06:25:42 +0000

Thanks for sharing. You have articulated something that had been hovering in the back of my mind.

Comment on Culture Shock by Brian

Brian — Wed, 12 May 2010 19:18:05 +0000

I’ve been trying to figure out some of the feedback to Northern Voice that I’ve been seeing, and had begun to grope towards a position that you articulate much better in this post.

Oddly enough, the growth of the conference may have prompted a transition where the diversity of people who happen to be using social media becomes more evident. I think that may be reflected in some new expectations. For instance, I read one post where a panelist complained that the session moderators (myself, and another organizer) had been too passive, and had not taken an active role in shaping and running the session. That was a first for me, in the past I’ve gotten used to quite self-directed presenters, who more than anything wanted me to keep the intros short so I don’t waste their time allotment.

Arjun’s and Nancy’s follow-ups are worth thinking about as well… NV as a network of diverse and at times divergent communities… civility and and some humility are so important.

Comment on Culture Shock by Nancy White

Nancy White — Wed, 12 May 2010 18:39:47 +0000

First, great post. Second, in response to Arjun’s question, in the way I understand communities and networks, NV is a network that now contains many communities, some of which rub up against each other comfortably in a moment of quasi-community and some that ruffle each others’ feathers. Ruffling is important – diversity causes us to rethink and revisit our positions and perspectives (or at its best, I hope it does.) Our task is to learn from our disagreements with civility rather than arrogance. But I guess we screw up pretty often.

Finally, I just connected you from NV10 back to NV9, which I had not done because my brain is what my brain is. YES, the imposter conversation!!! AHHHHHH

Waving from South Africa/on the road

Nancy

Comment on Culture Shock by Arjun

Arjun — Wed, 12 May 2010 06:10:03 +0000

Really enjoyed reading this very thoughtful post. I also the blogging / social media community has grown and diversified. I guess part of what I am asking myself is if we are really a community anymore. I tend to think yes and love the idea that we an all gather under the big “Northern Voice” tent. What you describe as a “community social media” conference has many of the same features, in my mind, as Northern Voice – but, I think it could be a valuable addition indeed. I like the idea of Northern Voice being a “hub” type conference where we can all meet, get to know each other, and exchange ideas.

Just some more mental meanderings.

Comment on I Believe These Things by heidi

heidi — Mon, 10 May 2010 17:11:54 +0000

Hi Susan!
Thanks so much!
I have those days where I wonder if I’m making a difference or not? Whether my time and energy should be focused elsewhere… Just the voice in my head that gets impatient and doubtful!
Your comments help me remember that I can just keep on going and trust that it takes time for seeds to grow…
Take care!

Comment on Love is the opposite of safe by eve magat

eve magat — Sat, 08 May 2010 14:17:55 +0000

you know i agree with you. i was always playing safe with my life. i come to realize things.

Comment on Lulled… by Peggy

Peggy — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 05:45:51 +0000

Oh Heidi – I almost cried when I read this. So poetic. Beautiful imagery, even if it comes from a place of pain.
Let’s connect soon, ok?