I was proactive. "Sean, I wonder if you would do me a big favor. Would you be my photographer during the performance?" I handed him my digital camera (and tried not to flinch as he put his fingers on the lens). I showed him how to use it. He immediately put the strap around his neck. He loved having an official role and was, for the most part, well-behaved.
Thank goodness for digital cameras. I hit the delete button on most of the pictures, but a few weren't bad. Better even than the pictures was the fact that Sean rose to the occasion and became a help, not a hindrance. I may try this again.
3 comments:
Back in my old life when I was doing Youth Ministry and training oodles of volunteers and adults to work with teenagers, we called this discipline process "utilization." Rather than view the "offending" young person as something to suppress, give them something to do and lots to do, too.
"Utilization" was really how I got my start in storytelling, too.
I was delighted to see your post here making use of the same technique. You are a natural empath with people, seeing the right thing at the right moment. Good for you!
Thanks, and thanks for that useful piece of vocabulary. I've got another library show tonight--we'll see if I need to utilize at this show.
Very cool and very clever. I would've flinched.
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