Dear All,
Something away from core HR but definitely worth
reading. We could apply it in our roles by ensuring
that we try and understand the problems/situations
etc. of our staff while working with them and taking
decisions.
Regards,
Rajat
THE PERFUME
As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the
very first day of school, she told the children an
untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her
students and said that she loved them all the same.
However, that was impossible, because there in the
front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named
Teddy Stoddard.
Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and
noticed that he did not play well with the other
children, that his clothes were messy and that he
constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be
unpleasant.
It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually
take delight in marking his papers with a broad red
pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the
top of his papers. At the school where Mrs. Thompson
taught, she was required to review each child's past
records and she put Teddy's off until last. However,
when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.
Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright
child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and
has good manners... he is a joy to be around."
His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent
student, well liked by his classmates, but he is
troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and
life at home must be a struggle."
His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has
been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his
father doesn't show much interest and his home life
will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."
Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is
withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He
doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in
class."
By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was
ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her
students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in
beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for
Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the
heavy, brown paper that the got from a grocery bag.
Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of
the other presents. Some of the children started to
laugh when she found a
rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing,
and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume. But
she stifled the children's
laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet
was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on
her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day
just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you
smelled just like my Mom used to." After the children
left, she cried for at least an hour. On that very
day, she quit teaching reading, writing and
arithmetic.
Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson
paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with
him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she
encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of
the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest
children in the class and, despite her lie that she
would love all the children the same, Teddy became one
of her "teacher's pets A year later, she found a note
under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was
still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Six years went by before she got another note from
Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school,
third in His class, and she was still the best teacher
he ever had in his Whole life. Four years after that,
she got another letter, saying that while things had
been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck
with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors.
He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and
favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.
Then four more years passed and yet another letter
came. This time he explained that after he got his
bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further.
The letter explained that she was still the best and
favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a
little longer....The letter was signed, Theodore F.
Stoddard, MD. The story does not end there. You see,
there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said
he had met this girl and was going to be married. He
explained that his father had died a couple of years
ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree
to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually
reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs.
Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet,
the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover,
she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy
remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas
together. They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard
whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you Mrs.
Thompson for believing in me Thank you so much for
making me feel important and showing me that I could
make a difference."
Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back.
She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the
one who taught me that I could make a difference. I
didn't know how to teach until I Met you.
From India, Pune
101Something away from core HR but definitely worth
reading. We could apply it in our roles by ensuring
that we try and understand the problems/situations
etc. of our staff while working with them and taking
decisions.
Regards,
Rajat
THE PERFUME
As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the
very first day of school, she told the children an
untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her
students and said that she loved them all the same.
However, that was impossible, because there in the
front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named
Teddy Stoddard.
Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and
noticed that he did not play well with the other
children, that his clothes were messy and that he
constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be
unpleasant.
It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually
take delight in marking his papers with a broad red
pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the
top of his papers. At the school where Mrs. Thompson
taught, she was required to review each child's past
records and she put Teddy's off until last. However,
when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.
Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright
child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and
has good manners... he is a joy to be around."
His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent
student, well liked by his classmates, but he is
troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and
life at home must be a struggle."
His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has
been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his
father doesn't show much interest and his home life
will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."
Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is
withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He
doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in
class."
By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was
ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her
students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in
beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for
Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the
heavy, brown paper that the got from a grocery bag.
Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of
the other presents. Some of the children started to
laugh when she found a
rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing,
and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume. But
she stifled the children's
laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet
was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on
her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day
just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you
smelled just like my Mom used to." After the children
left, she cried for at least an hour. On that very
day, she quit teaching reading, writing and
arithmetic.
Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson
paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with
him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she
encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of
the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest
children in the class and, despite her lie that she
would love all the children the same, Teddy became one
of her "teacher's pets A year later, she found a note
under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was
still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Six years went by before she got another note from
Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school,
third in His class, and she was still the best teacher
he ever had in his Whole life. Four years after that,
she got another letter, saying that while things had
been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck
with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors.
He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and
favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.
Then four more years passed and yet another letter
came. This time he explained that after he got his
bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further.
The letter explained that she was still the best and
favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a
little longer....The letter was signed, Theodore F.
Stoddard, MD. The story does not end there. You see,
there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said
he had met this girl and was going to be married. He
explained that his father had died a couple of years
ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree
to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually
reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs.
Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet,
the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover,
she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy
remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas
together. They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard
whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you Mrs.
Thompson for believing in me Thank you so much for
making me feel important and showing me that I could
make a difference."
Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back.
She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the
one who taught me that I could make a difference. I
didn't know how to teach until I Met you.
From India, Pune
Dear Rajat, I second your opinion. It is definitely worth reading. Beautiful — — - sree
From India, New Delhi
From India, New Delhi
Dear Rajat,
No doubts ,its too good.
In the morning after reading this article there were tears in my eyes too.Very few poeple in this world get good teachers in their life,who actually understands the problem of the child and work accordingly.
Promia
From India, Delhi
No doubts ,its too good.
In the morning after reading this article there were tears in my eyes too.Very few poeple in this world get good teachers in their life,who actually understands the problem of the child and work accordingly.
Promia
From India, Delhi
Hi Sree & Promila
Thanks ..am glad you liked it..
Isn’t this applicable in our day to day life in personal & professional areas…
We all flourish & bloom when we have boss like Mrs Thompson…
Have a great day!!
Rajat
From India, Pune
Thanks ..am glad you liked it..
Isn’t this applicable in our day to day life in personal & professional areas…
We all flourish & bloom when we have boss like Mrs Thompson…
Have a great day!!
Rajat
From India, Pune
Hi Rajat,
Again i would like to say lucky are those who have boss like Mrs.Thomson.
My boss ............no words to describe him............now a days he is having competition with me who does better.......actually he started feeling inscure afer me joining.........he litterally cried in front of GM,and told dont give all HR responsibilites to Promila,than what i will do.My core areas of responsibility is T&D.But Mgt is planning to give me Recuriments too.
u can undestand my situation where every day he tries to give bith to a new problem for me,but i am also facing them and of course learning a lot.How to handle in effective boss.
Promila
From India, Delhi
Again i would like to say lucky are those who have boss like Mrs.Thomson.
My boss ............no words to describe him............now a days he is having competition with me who does better.......actually he started feeling inscure afer me joining.........he litterally cried in front of GM,and told dont give all HR responsibilites to Promila,than what i will do.My core areas of responsibility is T&D.But Mgt is planning to give me Recuriments too.
u can undestand my situation where every day he tries to give bith to a new problem for me,but i am also facing them and of course learning a lot.How to handle in effective boss.
Promila
From India, Delhi
Hats off to Rajat for that post. Yes, Rajat, you are right, it is applicable to all of us in one way or other.
And i agree with Promila, anybody should be blessed to have a boss like Ms.Thompson.
Promila, i can understand your state because:::::
THOSE WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH PAIN AND SUFFERING ONLY CAN UNDERSTAND AND HELP THOSE WHO ARE IN PAIN AND THOSE WHO SUFFER.
Thanks
Bala
From India, Madras
And i agree with Promila, anybody should be blessed to have a boss like Ms.Thompson.
Promila, i can understand your state because:::::
THOSE WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH PAIN AND SUFFERING ONLY CAN UNDERSTAND AND HELP THOSE WHO ARE IN PAIN AND THOSE WHO SUFFER.
Thanks
Bala
From India, Madras
Hi Bala,
But let me tell u one thing but now i enjoy taking panga with him........to make him more jeasouls........i know its not right ....but at times i feel as if iam in the battle field i have to play my cards......
promila
From India, Delhi
But let me tell u one thing but now i enjoy taking panga with him........to make him more jeasouls........i know its not right ....but at times i feel as if iam in the battle field i have to play my cards......
promila
From India, Delhi
Hey Promila,
But that is not fair. If you have started thinking that you are on a battle field, then aren't you trying to stoop down to his level?
Anyway, many times i also feel the itch to get into a fight with my 'so called' boss. But now i have slowed down and stopped because i found that it hurts only me and nobody else!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks
Bala
From India, Madras
But that is not fair. If you have started thinking that you are on a battle field, then aren't you trying to stoop down to his level?
Anyway, many times i also feel the itch to get into a fight with my 'so called' boss. But now i have slowed down and stopped because i found that it hurts only me and nobody else!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks
Bala
From India, Madras
Hi,
A real nice, touching and worth reading post...of all the posts I have come across in this forum this one is real eye opener.......... we are tend to forget what it is to have someone who can mould us to great heights......... we also forget to be like that for others........ If our jealousiness is overcome and we help others become better individuals then be sure we would be 100 time better ourselfs........... In the selfish ways that we live today it is thoughts like this that make us think atleast for a few moments...
Vani
From India, Madras
A real nice, touching and worth reading post...of all the posts I have come across in this forum this one is real eye opener.......... we are tend to forget what it is to have someone who can mould us to great heights......... we also forget to be like that for others........ If our jealousiness is overcome and we help others become better individuals then be sure we would be 100 time better ourselfs........... In the selfish ways that we live today it is thoughts like this that make us think atleast for a few moments...
Vani
From India, Madras
this is perhaps one of the most touching anecdotes i ever came across. and rajat , i m really thankful to you to re-start this thread . if i m nt wrong , this story has been published earlier also by anu.
<link no longer exists - removed>
and to be true , i have completely forgotten it but you revived this sweet memory. thanx.
regards
manish
From India, Madras
<link no longer exists - removed>
and to be true , i have completely forgotten it but you revived this sweet memory. thanx.
regards
manish
From India, Madras
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