As I trek across the country with my family on our summer adventure, I’m reminded of how much we influence each other’s experiences. Driving through 11 states to camp in U.S. National Parks and Forests is no small feat. It requires careful planning and a lot of patience. I’m certainly not the poster child for the latter, but I’ve found that we function best when we pause for empathy.
When our three-year-old is having a meltdown in the backseat because she dropped something and can’t reach it, it helps to think, “I would be annoyed, too, if I were strapped into a five-point harness for several hours.” Or when our 8-year-old snaps at her sister, I think to myself, “It must be pretty annoying to be stuck in the backseat with the toddler tantrums for the whole trip.”
We won’t be able to avoid all the turmoil. I get that. But similar to how a manager can help shepherd their team, I can do my best to encourage empathy and ensure each person’s perspective is taken into account. They deserve to be heard. And better yet, when they feel heard, everyone has a better experience.
The World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics both recommend mothers breastfeed their babies for up to two years and beyond. Learn why.
