Expecting the Unexpected

As I have been meeting with parents and students during the past two weeks for conferences, I found myself asking over and over again, "What do I do when...?" Prior to sitting in on any conference, I imagined the worst case scenarios of "helicopter" parents or even ones that are indifferent. I knew what to expect from them-either obsession about their child's progress or nothing at all. But, what do I do about the ones that act so unexpectedly?

In partial answer to my question, my cooperating teacher gave me three "look fors". I was to look to see how she shared the student's strengths, discussed strategies to improve their weaknesses, and diffuse any issues. I must admit, that it was fascinating to watch and learn from her, but I also wondered how I would be able to manage all the different situations, dynamics and personalities on my own. For instance, how do I handle the situation when a parent comes to a conference drunk? Or, how do I emphasize the importance of education to a parent who does not prioritize it? Or, how do I "push back" on a parent who praises their child for disrespecting others and misbehaving in class?  These, as well as many other examples that have occurred in the last two weeks, makes me wonder how prepared I am to partner with parents in education and in their child's life. How do I prepare myself to expect the unexpected?