Reputation

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Imagine being known as the rudest person in town. I cringe to think that anyone would willingly claim that identity—someone who moves through life with a sense of entitlement, always on the offensive, talking down to people they see as "beneath" them, generally behaving badly. And yet I know these people exist, because I've met a few, out there in the wild making life miserable for everyone around them.

I sometimes worry that my neurospicy, blunt, occasionally snarky comments might come across as disrespectful. But my internal people-pleasing chaperone is usually on duty, guarding every gesture, remark, and observation to ensure I come across as pleasant, witty, and respectful—even when I'm exhausted, stressed, overwhelmed, or angry.

These thoughts harken back to "Is It a Mask?", the post from two weeks ago. Is my people-pleasing chaperone holding up a mask that disguises my authentic self? Honestly, I don't think so.
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Even though I despise conflict, I'll stand up for myself and for others who need my support whenever it's necessary. Still, I always try to remain polite in those interactions while staying focused on what I actually want to achieve. 

These are the attributes I model for the young people I spend my days with. I want them to know I will always have their back. But sometimes I need to be direct and call a spade a spade—especially when behaviors are over the top and affecting others. They know I'll call it out, because I can't believe anyone actually wants to go through life known as the jerk (feel free to insert the less PC version) trashing everyone and everything they encounter.  

I want them to understand that their reputation matters. It shapes not only how other people see them, but more broadly, how they're able to positively contribute to their community and make it better. Alongside that, I want them to know that they can (and will) absolutely make mistakes—as long as they acknowledge them and work hard to make amends. 

That perfectly defines my goal: sending young people into the world who are known for their kindness, flexibility, and curiosity, a willingness to own their errors, to speak up for change when it's needed, and a readiness to use their creative problem-solving skills to make those changes happen—no matter how small they may seem.  

DRC News

I am very happy to report a quiet week with no crises or other craziness at DRC. This is the time of year when I meet with student members and our many homeschool consultees, mostly by phone, to discuss specific information about what they want to study or accomplish this year so I can write their IHIPs.  I made a good head start on that this past week. 

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Book Project
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I am slowly making headway on turning my blog posts into a book.  I have reviewed 10 years' worth and sorted them into their chapters; only three years to go! Once that process is finished, I can begin the actual writing and deciding how each of the posts fits into its assigned chapter. An actual finished book is a long way off, but I will be happy to move on from this tedious part to the point where I can begin to visualize it and use my creative energies. At some point, I will be looking for folx to give it a first read and offer feedback. Let me know if you are interested in helping. 

A first draft mock-up cover

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Volunteer Opportunity

We currently have six volunteers lined up for this coming year, but would love to have several more to round out our schedule. Get in touch if you are interested in sharing your skill, talent, or general interests with young people eager to learn. Please share this opportunity with anyone in your network you think might be willing to help out.  The commitment is flexible; let us know what works best for you.  You can also complete the volunteer form here.

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Open Enrollment

DRC is here for anyone who wants to join us. Get in touch if you think this may be the place for your child. Or learn more here.