Creatures of Habit

Noah is getting a new teacher. Supposedly, she looks like me...same build, same hairstyle. Noah had her for the first time yesterday. I asked him about her and he said, "I don't like her." I asked why and he responded, "She moved our chairs. Our room looks different. She changed our stuff all around." I got very amused at the thought. Kids definitely appreciate consistency. He informed me that he wanted to keep Mrs. Jidov.

Flashback...
I'm remembering how concerned I was about my first impression of Mrs. Jidov. I thought she had no personality and love toward the kids.

I began to reshape this impression a little later in the year. I had an episode that was "eye-opening." Noah was expecting to get a ride home with a friend. However, I was picking him up for the day. He was upset with his teacher for not letting him go with his friend. When I arrived, he was pouting. As the teacher was explaining the situation to me, Noah starts whining. She looked at him and spoke quickly and firmly, "One, Two, Three!!!" He closed his mouth abrubtly. Then he looked at me and asked, "Why does she always tell me what to do?" I almost couldn't control a giggle, but I composed myself and explained to him her authority. Within a matter of minutes, as we were departing, Noah runs up to Mrs. Jidov and gives her a big hug and tells her bye. I'm thinking, "Wow. He totally loves and respects her for being firm." I was awakened to the importance of stern expectations and how children appreciate and thrive in its consistency. Noah never complained about going to school. He always talked about how much he loved class. I knew that Mrs. Jidov was just the structure he needed.

Now, Mrs. Jidov is being replaced. She will be training teachers instead. Noah's reaction to this transition is quite revealing: People don't like change! We are creatures of habit and don't want our lives disrupted. Why is that?