Chapter 1 of 2: Third-grader Ellen wanted to eat chocolate chip waffles for breakfast. Her mother insisted on serving her a more nourishing breakfast. Ellen was so disappointed about her breakfast choice that she only ate a few bites, glared at her mother, and refused to give her a hug and kiss good-bye before leaving for school. At lunchtime, Ellen visited the guidance counselor to request a Mediation session after school that day with her mother. The guidance counselor called up Ellen’s mother. She definitely agreed to come. Read the story to hear what WIN-WIN agreement got worked out between mother and daughter.
Chapter 1: Ellen sets up a Mediation session with the Guidance Counselor and her Mother
Third-grader Ellen was having a bad day. It all started with breakfast. She wanted to have a chocolate chip waffle for breakfast. Her mother wanted her to have something more nourishing like a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit. Her mother, being her mother, won. Ellen ate only a few bites and pushed the rest away with a very unloving glare at her mother. Her mother pretended not to notice.
Now, it was mid-morning and Ellen was quite hungry. It was really hard to concentrate on her studies as her stomach was growling. Plus, remembering that she hadn’t kissed or hugged her mother good-bye made her feel distinctly uncomfortable now.
Then, a teacher, Mrs. Johnson, called on her to answer a question she had asked. Ellen had not been able to answer the question as she hadn’t been listening. So the teacher kind of snapped at Ellen stating, “Ellen, you need to pay better attention in my class.”
Ellen said, “I’m sorry, Mrs. Johnson. I’ll try to do better.”
Mrs. Johnson said, “Thank you, Ellen. I would appreciate that.”
At lunchtime, Ellen gladly ate her lunch. Afterward, she walked up to the lunch monitor and said:. “Excuse me, Mr. Hamlet?”
Mr. Hamlet said, “Yes, Ellen?”
Ellen said, “May I please have a hall pass to go see the guidance counselor for a moment?”
Mr. Hamlet quickly wrote out a hall pass and sent Ellen on her way. He said, “Here you go, Ellen. Good luck with whatever is bothering you.”
Ellen said, “Thank you, Mr. Hamlet.”
Ellen walked as quickly as she could to Mrs. Taylor’s Guidance Office. She knocked on the door.
Mrs. Taylor answered the door and responded, “It’s Ellen, isn’t it?”
Ellen said, “Yes, Mrs. Taylor. Here’s my hall pass. I was hoping I could talk to you for couple of minutes.”
Mrs. Taylor said, “Of course, Ellen. That is what I am here for. Come in and take a seat.”
Ellen said, “Thank you, Mrs. Taylor.”
Once they got settled, Mrs. Taylor asked, “What can I do for you?”
Ellen said, “You came and talked to our class about Peer Mediation and Mediation.”
Mrs. Taylor said, “That’s right. Are you having a problem with one of your classmates?”
Ellen said, “Not exactly. I kind of had a bit of a fight with my mother this morning. I was hoping you could call my mother and see if she could come in after school today. Then you could help us talk out our problem with a Mediation session.”
Mrs. Taylor said, “Yes, I could do that. And I do have some time after school today. Do you feel that is the best way to work out your problem with your mother?”
Ellen said, “Yes, I think so.”
Mrs. Taylor said, “Remind me what grade you are in?”
Ellen said, “Third grade.”
Mrs. Taylor said, “This sounds like a very mature-sounding request coming from a third grader. I’m impressed.”
Ellen said, “Does mature mean kind of grown-up?”
Mrs. Taylor said, “Yes, that’s right.” Then she said, “What’s your phone number, and I’ll give your mother a call.”
Ellen told Mrs. Taylor her phone number. Mrs. Taylor dialed the number and said, “Hello, may I please speak to Mrs. Sawyer?”
Mrs. Sawyer, Ellen’s mother, said, “This is she.”
Mrs. Taylor said, “I’m Mrs. Taylor, the school Guidance Counselor. Ellen is sitting in my office. She has requested that you come in after school for a Mediation session.”
Mrs. Sawyer asked, “What’s a Mediation session?”
Mrs. Taylor said, “That is an impartial guided session that I hold in my office between you and your daughter. Without going into details, Ellen indicated that you and she had a bit of a problem. She feels that the best way to work out this problem is by having a Mediation session. Are you willing to come?”
Mrs. Sawyer said, “Yes, I can do that. What time?”
Mrs. Taylor said, “School dismisses at 3:20. Could you be here at 3:30?”
Mrs. Sawyer said, “Yes, I’ll be there. Please tell Ellen that I love her.”
Mrs. Taylor said, “Just a moment. Ellen, your mother said she will be here at 3:30. She also said that she loves you.”
Relieved tears came to Ellen’s eyes. She said, “Tell my mother I love her too.”
Mrs. Taylor said, “Ellen said to tell you that she loves you too.”
Mrs. Sawyer said, “Thank you, Mrs. Taylor. I will see you both at 3:30.”
Mrs. Taylor said, “Thank you, Mrs. Sawyer. I will see you then.”
Just then, the bell rang. Mrs. Taylor said, “You better get on to class, Ellen. After school, why don’t you visit the bathroom and then come directly to my office?”
Ellen said, “Thank you, Mrs. Taylor. I will see you then.”
Click to read Chapter 2: A Mediation session for Ellen and her Mother
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