Empathy Can’t Be Taught, But It Can Be Caught

May 182010
 

“Empathy can’t be taught but it can be caught,” says Mary Gordon. The founder of the Roots of Empathy, a school-based program, was widely quoted in this recent Time article, entitled How Not to Raise a Bully.

The ability to recognize and consider others’ feelings and points of view is clearly an important component of decreasing violence.

However another parenting author I like to read recently asked “Can your kids care too much?”

I will toss some older WKNTS posts about inspired (and inspiring) kids — Zack, Jonathan and Matthew — into the mix.

Inspired to Give
Taking Action
“I’m a Water Skier, Mom!”

Is it true that some people have too much empathy while others don’t have enough? Do you agree that empathy can be ‘caught?’ And if parents and teachers are already feeling over-stressed, what exactly is it that we need to do to increase kindness and compassion? How do we find the balance?

Patricia Tuohy Legacy | Dreams For Kids

May 092010
 

by guest poster, Tom Tuohy

Patricia Tuohy was born in Chicago, Illinois. As a young mother she was left to raise her four young children alone. Mrs. Tuohy dedicated her entire life to making certain all of her children had the opportunity to achieve their dreams.

When her youngest son, Tom Tuohy, graduated from law school and began his career, Mrs. Tuohy was filled with pride. Knowing, however, how difficult it had been for her family to reach that point, she could not help feeling something was missing. Mrs. Tuohy’s heart was dwelling on the many other children who had big dreams but small opportunities.

On a night which will always be remembered as the night Dreams for Kids was born, Mrs. Tuohy took note of the many joyous, blessed people who had come together for a night of celebration. She looked around the room and said to her son. “Now that you’ve achieved your dreams, it’s time to help other kids achieve theirs.

“I remember that one moment as if it had occurred yesterday,” recalls Tom Tuohy. When my mom made that request, we both smiled. We were standing in a room filled with the good fortune of my life, which could have turned out quite differently. I was the youngest child. My mother somehow found the financial means to raise us all on a $6,000 a year salary. When she took a second job, all the kids began working as well. It was difficult for my mom every single day. She carried on with a silent dignity, but there were many times when I wondered… <read the rest here>


Michael and His Mother

May 092010
 

Guess what??? This blog is old enough to have developed a tradition.  Welcome to our second annual Mother’s Day greeting from artist Michael Jorogue Johnson and his manager -mother Robin.

I interviewed Robin when I was doing research for What Kids Need to Succeed… her son Michael is an artist who was featured in the “Giving Back” section of the book.  Michael also has Down Syndrome.

We’ve not met in person ‘yet’ — Robin decided we should hold out for an Oprah appearance.  Together.  Despite having been told that I was “the only author in America who didn’t put ‘get on Oprah’s show’ in my marketing plan” I look forward to it.

Anyway, when I got the following note from Robin, the idea for our new tradition was born. (I posted some of Michael’s art last Mother’s Day.)

Hi Andrea,

If you know some folks in Grand Rapids, MI they can be a big help to Michael and have some fun at the same time. Michael’s painting “Enough To Share?” will be displayed in the lobby of the Grand Rapids Civic Theater on Thursday May 13, 2010. The Civic Theater is located at 30 Division Avenue in downtown Grand Rapids. From 12 noon to 5:30 pm people can vote on their favorite artwork.

The artist painting Enough to Share

Recently ten of his paintings were auctioned at a Kentucky Derby Party fundraiser. In a few months when we get the thank you card we will hear how much Michael’s paintings brought at auction yesterday. The executive director of the Down Syndrome organization just said they were very happy with the results.

Michael loves horse racing and is looking forward to watching The Preakness on TV. He has two Arches watercolor blocks and is doing thank you paintings for people in the thoroughbred industry who gave him resource materials to use in his paintings this year.

Today we entered 2 of his quarter horse watercolors in the American Academy of Equine Art juried exhibit in Lexington, KY.

Happy Mother’s Day,

Robin

by Michael Jorogue Johnson

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