One of my favorite words that have evolved in the past ten years or so is the word “troubleshooter” or its counterpart verb “troubleshoot”—I am sure that it is somehow tied to technological advancements but it has been appropriated into just about every workplace and project that I know of. In my family life, however, I cannot help but think sometimes that what we really need is not a parent or a housekeeper, but a good, qualified, creative troubleshooter!
The thing about being the parent is that I do tend to get in a rut—even my problem-solving skills that have been honed by going on five decades can get pretty rusty and predictable. When it comes to complicated plumbing problems, computer glitches, or some of the complicated teenage problems that come across my path—I know there are those out there who would do a better job of troubleshooting and coming up with workable, satisfactory solutions.
You know how at work, when you mess up your computer or there is a departmental problem, someone suggests that you get the IT person in to trouble shoot or you call a meeting and make sure that you get the department’s best troubleshooters in on the problem? Wouldn’t it be fabulous to have the same resources at home? I have to admit if I could have trained mediator and an IT person on my home staff, I would be one happy person. Not to mention, it would take away some of that parent vs. teenager tension that we can get stuck in around here!
And it isn’t just because I’m parenting teenagers that I would love a good troubleshooter. When I think about it and look back, there isn’t a stage or phase where I couldn’t have used a Dr. T. Berry Brazelton or some other expert looking over my shoulder and offering to “troubleshoot” a difficult situation for me. Alas, I’m on my own, but wouldn’t it be nice if?
Also: Communication Breakdown? It Might Be That You Are TOO MUCH Alike
Interruptions in Child Development
Consistency Doesn’t Always Go Both Ways