Power
can be a dangerous thing at times. When a person has power, they have the
ability to influence and even control events. When a person has power, then can
at times make others do what they want or control situations to go the way they
want. Power is also something that people want. Some people use that power to better
others. I have been in an
unbalanced power relationship situation and it’s not that fun. It makes you feel
like you have no power, or that someone overturns what you say. For example, I
nanny and one of the families I nanny for has a 4yr old son. I have watched him
since he was 1 and have a great relationship with the family. At times I feel
that I am in an unbalanced power battle with the mom since there have been at
times when the little boy has asked me for something that he isn’t supposed to
have and I say no. Then he goes and asks
his mom and she will say no, but then he begs her and she gives in. That has happened more than once and it gets
frustrating. I know that the mother has the ultimate power over me, but to give
in after I say no, make me feel like I have no power and the little boy has a
hard time listening to me. When she
leaves for work, I ultimately have more power and it feels a lot better to
have, there isn’t much of a struggle since what I say goes, since his mom isn’t
there to give it and less conflict actually comes from it.
I really enjoyed reading your post! First off I really liked the comment you made about how sometimes people can use power to better other people. Its weird because when I was writing my post or when people think about power they never think about it in terms of bettering others, but rather using it in a negative way. I think if more people could see the results and good they do by using their power to help other people then they would do so.
ReplyDeleteI also have a similar story too when you talk about the whole babysitting thing. For me the son is like my customers at my work, the mom is like the manager, and I am like you. I find it extremely frustrating as well when my managers give in after customers throw a fit. The hard thing is the position that they hold is something we can't sometimes get over. What I've had luck with is expressing my feelings with them because it might be something they don't even know they are doing or bugs you.
Good luck!