There once was a frog and a scorpion sitting on the bank of a pond. The scorpion needed to get to the other side. He couldn’t swim and didn’t want to take the long way around. The frog was keeping his distance because he knew about the deadly sting found in the wrath of the scorpion’s tail.
The scorpion looked at the frog and smiled. He had an idea to solve his dilemma. “Hey frog,” he called. Cautiously, the frog looked in his direction and the scorpion asked him if he would be so kind as to give him a ride on his back across the pond. The frog wondered what he was up to and said, “No way! I know you scorpions. As soon as we get half way over, you will sting me and I will die.” The scorpion smiled at the silly frog and replied, “Silly frog. I won’t sting you, because if I did, you would die, and I would drown because I can’t swim. That is why I am asking you for a ride. I don’t feel like walking all the way around the pond.” The frog thought about it for a little while and it seemed to make sense so he said, “In that case, jump on.”
The duo began the journey. They were having a nice conversation as the scorpion clung to the frog’s back. The frog thought perhaps they could become friends. They talked about their hobbies, their families, and what their plans were for the New Year.
When they were about half way across, to the frog’s shock and dismay, the scorpion stung him. The frog couldn’t believe it. In anger, he yelled, “Why on earth did you do that? Why did you sting me? Now we both are going to die!” As the scorpion was sinking and beginning to drown, he said with a gurgle, “Why did I sting you? I am a scorpion and that is what scorpions do.”
When I heard this story, it taught me something about parenting. The lesson of the story is that scorpions, as well as people, act according to their identity (or how they see themselves), even if their actions are not in their best interest.
It made me wonder how my kids see themselves. Do they feel good about themselves? Do they think they are smart, well-behaved, industrious, helpful, and hard-working? In other words, what is their self-identity? Because they will act and behave according to how they see themselves, and they develop that view of themselves, in large part, by how I mirror it to them.
Do I point out the things that they do well or the things they do poorly? What words do I use to describe them? How do I react to them when they make a mistake? What am I doing to influence the way they see themselves?
Do they see themselves in a positive light because of the way I interact with them? Or a negative light? What mosaic of themselves are they creating with my assistance?
As I write this, it is time for me to tuck my kids in bed. I’m going to go put a positive piece in their mosaic. I can't miss this opportunity.
“I’m on my way girls…”
