Save yourself time and recycle social behavior stories

                                                  (Three minute read)
One of my moms asked me to prepare her daughter for the yomtov of Shavuos since the Pesach prep we had done a few weeks ago really made a difference, and the mom wanted her family to experience another lovely and peaceful yomtov once again.
So I took the same social behavior story I had prepared for Pesach, changed a few relevant details, and voila! In 5-8 minutes, we had a new social behavior story to get my student ready for Shavuos.

If you already do that all the time, AWESOME! But if you tend to write a brand new, creative social behavior story each time, it’s not necessary.

Here’s the old (Pesach) and new (Shavuos) social behavior story so that you can see how the original one was recycled.

What can I do to make Pesach enjoyable?

My name is Chana. I am 21 years old. Pesach is coming and there’s gonna be a lot of fun and a lot happening.
For the first days, my sister Leah is coming with her husband and 3 children. Faigy is also coming with her husband and 2 kids. This means that there’s going to be a lot going on in my house on Pesach. The kids will be running around, they will play and fight probably, the little kids will want a lot of attention from my parents, and so forth.

What can I do to make my house calmer and quieter?

      1.  I can read a book to my nieces and nephews if they get noisy.

      2 . I can stay in my room if it’s too noisy for me.

      3.  I can read my own book that I enjoy.

      4.  I can help my mother in the kitchen.

      5.  I can talk to my mother when she’s not busy with the grandchildren.

    .

    What can I do at the long seder?

                 1. I can sing along.

                 2. I can read the book that my mother plans to get me. 

                 3. I can help serve.  

                  4. I can help clean off any mess on the table.

                  5. I can go to sleep when I’m tired.

    What should I do when I want my mother’s attention and my nieces and nephews also want her attention? Usually, we give attention first to the people who are younger. My nieces and nephews are younger than me so I will be expected to wait for my mother to be done with them before she gives me her attention.

    I can also remember that my nieces and nephews only see my mother when they come to visit for special occasions. I get to see my mother every single day! Should I let my nieces and nephews get my mother’s attention during Pesach? YESSSSS! After Pesach, I will be able to have my mother all to myself every day again. During Pesach, I’ll try to be generous and let my nieces and nephews spend time with my mother on this special occasion.

    For the second days, my grandparents are coming. I can try to be a gracious hostess even when it’s hard. I can walk away from the table when it’s hard to be there.

    Pesach comes around only once a year and there are parts that I enjoy, such as the food. I’ll try to make the most of it and make Pesach as pleasant as can be for both my family and me.

    What can I do to make Shavuos enjoyable?

    My name is Chana. I am 21 years old. Shavuos is coming and there’s gonna be a lot of fun and a lot happening.

    For the entire yomtov, my sister Leah is coming with her husband and 3 children. Faigy is also coming with her husband and 2 kids. My Bobby and Zeidy are also coming. This means that there’s going to be a lot going on in my house on Shavuos. The kids will be running around, they will play and fight probably, the little kids will want a lot of attention from my parents, and so forth.

    Sometimes I get triggered. That means that some things bother me. For example, it might bother me that the kids are playing with something I don’t want them to play with. Or everyone is on the couch upstairs and I want to sit on it. Or it might be that some bathrooms might not be available.

    What can I do to feel calmer and make my house quieter?

        1. I can read a book to my nieces and nephews if they get noisy.
        2. I can go to the couch and relax.
        3. I can take a walk outside if the weather is nice
        4. I can stay in my room if it’s too noisy for me.
        5. I can read my own book that I enjoy. 
        6. I can help my mother in the kitchen.
        7. I can help serve.
        8. I can help prepare the food.
        9. I can talk to my mother when she’s not busy with the grandchildren.
        10. I can help clean off any mess on the table.
        11. I can go to sleep when I’m tired.
        12. I can try to be a gracious hostess even when it’s hard.
        13. I can walk away from the table when it’s hard to be there.

      What should I do when I want my mother’s attention and my nieces and nephews also want her attention? Usually, we give attention first to the people who are younger. My nieces and nephews are younger than me so I will be expected to wait for my mother to be done with them before she gives me her attention.

      I can also remember that my grandmother and grandfather and nieces and nephews only see my mother when they come to visit for special occasions. I get to see my mother every single day! Should I let my grandmother and grandfather and my nieces and nephews get my mother’s attention during Shavuos? YESSSSS! After Shavuos, I will be able to have my mother all to myself every day again. During Shavuos, I’ll try to be generous and let my grandmother and grandfather and nieces and nephews spend time with my mother on this special occasion.

      Shavuos comes around only once a year and there are parts that I enjoy, such as the cheesecake and delicious milchig food. I’ll try to make the most of it and make Shavuos as pleasant as can be for both my family and me.

      Reminders:

          • Read the social behavior story every day or so, until yomtov.

          • Print it out so that you can refer to the calming strategies on yomtov if necessary.

        Have a delicious and meaningful yomtov!

        Devora

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