Musings from the Grange
by Lilly Wit
I was picking up my son last Sunday after a weekend long basketball tournament. I didn’t have the opportunity to go to the games, so when he got in my car, I asked him how it went.
“Fine,” he said, pulling a trophy out of his bag. “We won.”
Then, with hardly a pause, he tossed the trophy back in the bag and started to complain.
“I hate coaches … and teachers … and adults … and dad.”
Although I’m sure he wanted to include me in this list, he knew better. I was his ride home and I was more than willing to kick him out of the car and make him walk.
“They all think I should automatically respect them just because they’re adults. It doesn’t work that way. You have to earn my respect.”
I rolled my eyes, shook my head, and wondered to myself what I did in a past life to deserve this stereotypical, obnoxious, annoying, teenage boy attitude. Then I wondered what I could possibly say or do that would “fix” him before his coach, his teacher, or his dad finally ran out of patience and had to kill him.
Clint Eastwood once said, “When I was young there was no respect for the young, and now that I’m old, there is no respect for the old.”
At Innovation Park, we know we can’t be faithful to our purpose unless there is an abundance of respect between our residents, building owners, and guests. We ask all who join or visit our community to make a commitment to show gratitude, engage politely, maintain a positive attitude, and focus on serving others in a sincere way.
And it’s worked… for over 20 years. Folks bring their own set of experiences, unique insights, and amazing diversity of specific know how to the Park every day. When we share these gifts with one another couched in respect and enthusiasm, we give everyone in our Park community a chance to learn and grow. Through such respect, each of us is allowed to pick our path, as the community supports our journey.
Once, when my kids were much younger, I saw a t-shirt that said, “Who are these kids and why are they calling me mom?”
Now, as I struggle through life with four teenagers, I often think of that t-shirt and wish I had it to wear for teacher conferences, meetings with the principal, meetings with the coach, family vacations, and even the dentist’s office.
I apologize to everyone who has been disrespected by my teen, and I assure you that I’m working on it.
I’m hoping that it won’t take more than 10 or 20 years.