Naleighna Kai's Literary Cafe Magazine NK Literary Cafe Magazine - April 2018 Issue | Page 40

The Power of a
good attitude
Every morning before my ten-year-old leaves for
school, I say, “A good attitude,” and she responds
with, “Equals a positive day.” I believe affirmations
are healthy, positive reinforcements of intended
behavior. If they’re said often, and with conviction,
they’ll become ingrained in our minds.
In a world where life can sometimes be mean and
unfair, the quote that starts our day is a reminder
that although we can’t always control the situation,
we do have control over how we perceive and react
to them.
Three years ago, my daughter was having a difficult
time in a new school with children bullying her.
This is common unfortunate behavior when
someone doesn’t “fit” into someone else’s realm of
what’s “cool or accepted” or simply because you’re
40 | NKLC Magazine
London St Charles
London St. Charles
the new target. No real reason is needed. She felt alone
in a new environment that was an unfortunate result
of her previous school closing due to low enrollment.
My heart ached, and blood boiled. Not a healthy
combination.
The teacher was very helpful. Once informed, she kept
a close eye on the culprits, changed the independent
work groups, and also the seating assignments
during lunch. But she couldn’t catch everything. The
transitions in the halls proved to be a perfect area for
hurling insults. The children, who called my beautiful
daughter ugly, fat or teased her because she brought
a lunch from home, were chipping away at her self-
esteem over things she never had to be concerned with
in the past.