I was shocked the other day and not a lot moves me to that state.

I had been at a 2 day Coaching Psychology conference and had travelled back early so that I could see my youngest take part in his last primary school play. The play was a simple nativity with swinging musical numbers performed by each of the year groups. It was obvious that a considerable amount of effort had been put in by not just the kids but also the staff.

Behind me sat a lady and her young child and we had not even got to the innkeeper scene when she started to pass comment over the production.It transpired that her prodigee was in one of the year groups. However, instead of positive comment, she was talking about this type of thing really dragging on and that this type of play always did. These comments being made in front of her young child. Eventually, enough was enough and she left probably just over half way through.

I was amazed, not just at the comments that she had made but at the programming that her comments were making on her younger child. Comments that, over a period of time, are likely to affect this childs understanding of the world and the way that they react to the value of such a play.

Gone was the amazing experience that he or she will have in the future knowing that Mom does not appreciate it, and gone are the accolades of genuine encouragement that any growing youngster needs.

I was truly shocked.