A Friendly Nudge - Valuable Encouragement
...because we all could use a little encouragement!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.
There’s a concept in education that describes the value of teachers being “warm demanders” and the potential for this approach to improve student outcomes. It focuses on building trust and rapport, to cultivate agency along with self self discipline by supporting the growth that can happen with constructive struggle. Warm demanders balance having high expectations for students with providing the support and encouragement to meet those expectations.
When I read about this idea it occurred to me that that was always my intention as a parent, as a coach in youth sports, as well as with the adults that I’ve coached or managed over the years.
Telling kids, or anyone for that matter, that they’re capable of anything is great but we need to help them build the skills, the talents and the belief systems to make that something other than empty rhetoric.
I think there’s some helpful messaging here when it comes to self talk. It’s easy to fall into either the inner critic or maybe to replace that with the inner cheerleader but I think a more helpful approach might be to see what we can do to nourish our inner warm demander. That means being supportive and measured, with a reassuring perspective to help us see what we’re doing right and not blowing our shortcomings out of proportion.
Just something to think about…
Now let’s cook something yummy and healthy–Sauteed Cabbage with Toasted Crack Pepper and Pecorino Romano Cheese
Even as a kid I liked cole slaw, and if sauerkraut was part of some type of amped up hot dog, I was OK with kraut. But I never considered myself much of a cooked cabbage fan. If we’re being honest about it, just the smell of any of the cruciferous clan as they’re cooked is enough to make you think twice about the wisdom of eating them.
Luckily for me, my adventurous palate overruled my nose and better judgment. I know this doesn’t sound like the best sales pitch for cabbage, but I’d strongly encourage you to give it a chance with the addition of toasted crack black pepper and Pecorino Romano cheese.
Ingredients:
I ½ -2 lb head of cabbage, chopped
1 tsp whole peppercorns
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Fat pinch of salt
1 cup Pecorino Romano cheese - grated
(Reserve 2 tbsp of cheese for serving)
Lemon wedge for garnish/serving
This is a really simple recipe.
Grate the cheese and chop the cabbage after you’ve cut out and discarded the core.
Toast the peppercorns - when you see them start to move by themselves in the skillet, they’re ready to remove to the mortar and pistil or whatever you’re going to use to grind them.
I use the water drop test on the skillet to see if I’ve gotten it hot enough and when the water just slides like a drop of mercury on the surface I know the skillet is ready.
Add the olive oil and the butter and then add the cabbage to the skillet. Add a fat pinch of salt and then stir to combine. Put a lid on the skillet and while the cabbage is cooking, crack the peppercorns.
The cabbage will soften pretty quickly, probably 6-8 minutes. Once it does, add the peppercorns and the Pecorino, saving a couple of tablespoons of cheese for topping the finished product.
Cook for another 1-2 minutes until the cheese is completely melted.
Serve with a lemon wedge and top with a little more grated Pecorino.
Enjoy!
Now let’s give you plenty of exercise options for this next week.
Note: Remember to skip any that don’t feel appropriate at this point. You can do the ones that work for you as individual snacks or together as a circuit.