Over the past few days Amina has been exhibiting some “cranky pants” behavior. In other words, an irritable, irrational, and erratic presence.
Even more than usual for a toddler.
My main challenge is that she is not quite old enough to identify or articulate exactly what is bothering her.
I suspect it has something to do with the change in her schedule and temporary decrease of stimulation during the day. But, all I can really do as her father is start reading between the lines, gathering clues, and making educated guesses.
Fortunately, as an Excel instructor and consultant over the past 14 years, I have some experience in this area.
Allow me to explain.
In order to be an effective instructor, I am constantly looking for signs in my students of confusion, frustration, or anything else that could be interfering with their ability to learn.
Sure, they have a great deal of responsibility here as well. But, as the chosen Excel expert, I have a sacred responsibility to help my clients learn Excel. And if I’ve learned anything over the years, it’s that my students (much like my children) won’t always tell me what’s bothering them, and it’s up to me to dig deeper.
And you know something?
I’m cool with that.