A Minute of Transformation

Updated 2024.01.04

Introduction

Having a connection with Sichuan, let's talk about the art of face-changing in Sichuan Opera. Imagine performers rapidly changing masks to the beat of lively music, swiftly shifting through a range of emotions from joy, anger, and sorrow to surprise and sadness, all in an instant. It's both magical and entertaining.

However, the reality of "face-changing" might not be as amusing. Today, I want to share an instance of a parent's real-life transformation. If such scenes are a daily occurrence, they could cause significant emotional fluctuations for the parent and the resilient children, leading to exhaustion.

Real-Life Transformation

Many working mothers, under the pressure of balancing family and work, often unknowingly vent their stress in various situations.

 Once, while resting on a minibus, I overheard a mother's one-minute phone conversation, a showcase of rapid emotional shifts:

1st statement: Praise and Persuasion - "Be good; it's time to catch the school bus; put on your shoes quickly."

2nd statement: Familial Love - "Wear the school shoes, listen to grandma, okay?"

3rd statement: Peer Influence - "You can't wear those shoes to school; all the other kids wear uniform shoes."

4th statement: Time Pressure - "The bus is leaving soon, hurry up!"

5th statement: Emotional Outburst - "I'm getting angry now; change your shoes quickly!"

6th statement: Threat - "If you don't change them now, you'll see what happens tonight..."

7th statement: Coercion - "Looks like you have to be stern; it's time already. I am reaching office soon." (This I believe she was talking to the kid’s grandma.)

This working mother likely faces such concerns daily, worrying about whether her child follows the rules, like wearing the right shoes for the school bus.

Conclusion and Call to Action

We all know that 'changing faces' is not a solution to the above problem, and I'm sure readers have many practical and creative ways to manage children's discipline. If we adopt this problem-solving attitude in our workplaces, it can eliminate barriers to efficiency, not only enhancing corporate efficiency but also improving employee morale and stability. This approach enables staff to engage in their work for more extended, more productive periods.