by Dr. Debra Collins
Picture the shining eyes of a child celebrating another milestone. “I can do it, all by myself!”
What of a pampered child who never needs to lift a finger? Does such indulgence make them happier than the child tackling tricky steps toward independence?
The month before I left home for college, I suddenly realized I’d taken a lot for granted. I didn’t know how to use a washer and dryer! I’d never shopped for groceries! Studying was something I knew how to do. Being completely responsible for myself was entirely new. I made a concentrated effort to learn how to make sure I’d have clean clothing and food to eat.
My parents moved me into the dorm room and drove away, leaving me with a stranger: my randomly-assigned roommate, “Cindy.” That first weekend, I was amazed to discover how worldly-wise I was. I suggested we have a sandwich. Cindy wailed, “I don’t know how to make a sandwich!” I ordered a pizza. Cindy did not know how to remove a slice from the pie! When I put water on to boil, Cindy immediately peered into the pot and asked, “Why aren’t there any bubbles?” For her, everyday practicalities were overwhelming obstacles.
When Cindy’s older sister came to visit, it all became clear. Hour after hour, Cindy lay in bed, studying. She only got up when absolutely necessary (to attend class, or for personal hygiene). Cindy’s sister waited on her, hand and foot.
Along these lines, let’s take a look at THE PALACE RAT, with the help of the CASEL lens of social-emotional learning.
What of a pampered child who never needs to lift a finger? Does such indulgence make them happier than the child tackling tricky steps toward independence?
The month before I left home for college, I suddenly realized I’d taken a lot for granted. I didn’t know how to use a washer and dryer! I’d never shopped for groceries! Studying was something I knew how to do. Being completely responsible for myself was entirely new. I made a concentrated effort to learn how to make sure I’d have clean clothing and food to eat.
My parents moved me into the dorm room and drove away, leaving me with a stranger: my randomly-assigned roommate, “Cindy.” That first weekend, I was amazed to discover how worldly-wise I was. I suggested we have a sandwich. Cindy wailed, “I don’t know how to make a sandwich!” I ordered a pizza. Cindy did not know how to remove a slice from the pie! When I put water on to boil, Cindy immediately peered into the pot and asked, “Why aren’t there any bubbles?” For her, everyday practicalities were overwhelming obstacles.
When Cindy’s older sister came to visit, it all became clear. Hour after hour, Cindy lay in bed, studying. She only got up when absolutely necessary (to attend class, or for personal hygiene). Cindy’s sister waited on her, hand and foot.
Along these lines, let’s take a look at THE PALACE RAT, with the help of the CASEL lens of social-emotional learning.
At the grand palace in Versailles, Henri enjoys a life of luxury. As the darling pet of Louis XIV, Henri dines on delicacies and wears tailored clothes. Each evening, Henri performs his only task: he tells a bedtime story to lull King Louis to sleep. Then, comfy-cozy, Henri slumbers on a pile of satin pillows.
The cook, the tailor, and even the queen resent the spoiled rat. They carry out a devious plan. Henri finds himself alone in the countryside, far, far away from the palace.
Declaring, “Palace life is the only life I know,” Henri vows to make his way back to King Louis. But before he makes the journey, there are a few things he needs to do.
First of all, Henri is hungry. The local peasants (a family of mice) inform him there is no find food, no cook to prepare haute cuisine, no servant to deliver it on a silver tray. Swallowing his horror, Henri joins them as they scrounge through trash.
While foraging, Henri snags and soils his shirt. Catastrophe! He cannot return to the palace so disheveled. The mice explain that there are no lovely silk and velvet fabrics, nor is there a tailor. Henri must make do with scraps and rags.
Fatigued from the efforts of acquiring food and clothing, Henri seeks a night’s rest. Alas, there are no pillows of satin and goose down, no floral sachets. Not even a roof over Henri’s head! Henri must sleep in an open field.
As he bemoans his suffering, longing for rescue, we see that he is sorely lacking a variety of social-emotional competencies. Confident that his needs will be met quite splendidly, he has never tested his abilities. Accordingly, he is unaware of his capabilities, his strengths and limitations. Quite satisfied with his status quo, he has no goals or growth mindset. Pleased with all that has been provided to him, he has never needed to solve a problem. Henri’s Self-Awareness, Self-Management, and Responsible Decision-Making are unsprouted seeds.
Henri believes fending for himself will be his undoing. He is quite surprised to find that he does not fall apart. While scavenging, he finds strawberries sweeter than the palace pastries and bits of cheese worthy of a king’s feast. From fabric scraps, he fashions a tunic that he finds suitably stylish and…fashionable! He sleeps in a field fragrant with lavender, under stars more sparkly than the place chandeliers.
And the mice don’t snore through Henri’s stories! He attracts crowds of fascinated listeners!
HE’S MADE FRIENDS!
In addition to discovering pleasures around him, Henri has acquired inner competencies. He has experienced agency and self-efficacy. He has acquired confidence and purpose. Ousted from his narrow (though luxurious) space, Henri finds he enjoys exploring an open world, with an open mind.
This new life is sumptuously rich! Henri finds pride in being a Country Rat, pride born of accomplishment rather than entitlement. Far from his undoing, fending for himself has been the making of him.
Oh, and my roommate, Cindy? She definitely learned to master practicalities. She became an engineer!
The cook, the tailor, and even the queen resent the spoiled rat. They carry out a devious plan. Henri finds himself alone in the countryside, far, far away from the palace.
Declaring, “Palace life is the only life I know,” Henri vows to make his way back to King Louis. But before he makes the journey, there are a few things he needs to do.
First of all, Henri is hungry. The local peasants (a family of mice) inform him there is no find food, no cook to prepare haute cuisine, no servant to deliver it on a silver tray. Swallowing his horror, Henri joins them as they scrounge through trash.
While foraging, Henri snags and soils his shirt. Catastrophe! He cannot return to the palace so disheveled. The mice explain that there are no lovely silk and velvet fabrics, nor is there a tailor. Henri must make do with scraps and rags.
Fatigued from the efforts of acquiring food and clothing, Henri seeks a night’s rest. Alas, there are no pillows of satin and goose down, no floral sachets. Not even a roof over Henri’s head! Henri must sleep in an open field.
As he bemoans his suffering, longing for rescue, we see that he is sorely lacking a variety of social-emotional competencies. Confident that his needs will be met quite splendidly, he has never tested his abilities. Accordingly, he is unaware of his capabilities, his strengths and limitations. Quite satisfied with his status quo, he has no goals or growth mindset. Pleased with all that has been provided to him, he has never needed to solve a problem. Henri’s Self-Awareness, Self-Management, and Responsible Decision-Making are unsprouted seeds.
Henri believes fending for himself will be his undoing. He is quite surprised to find that he does not fall apart. While scavenging, he finds strawberries sweeter than the palace pastries and bits of cheese worthy of a king’s feast. From fabric scraps, he fashions a tunic that he finds suitably stylish and…fashionable! He sleeps in a field fragrant with lavender, under stars more sparkly than the place chandeliers.
And the mice don’t snore through Henri’s stories! He attracts crowds of fascinated listeners!
HE’S MADE FRIENDS!
In addition to discovering pleasures around him, Henri has acquired inner competencies. He has experienced agency and self-efficacy. He has acquired confidence and purpose. Ousted from his narrow (though luxurious) space, Henri finds he enjoys exploring an open world, with an open mind.
This new life is sumptuously rich! Henri finds pride in being a Country Rat, pride born of accomplishment rather than entitlement. Far from his undoing, fending for himself has been the making of him.
Oh, and my roommate, Cindy? She definitely learned to master practicalities. She became an engineer!
