4 responses to “Ideas for Mentoring”

  1. Veronica

    Ask her what she wants out of a mentoring relationship.

    Listen, listen, listen.

    And then do all the stuff you just suggested.

  2. rosiemolinary

    Good points, Veronica! I’ll add that you shouldn’t take any silence as a desire to not have a mentor or as a sign of dislike. Sometimes, it will take a while for a young person to warm up– maybe even until you prove that you are dependable. And sometimes, when you ask them what they would like to talk about or do, they’ll shrug or say they don’t know. That doesn’t necessarily mean they want to talk about or do nothing. Sometimes they aren’t sure what parameters you might have and don’t want to be embarrassed by suggesting something outside those parameters. Other times, they really just don’t know what options are available. This is a good time to have some concrete suggestions in your back pocket so you can say “would you like to x, y, or z.”

  3. fightingwindmills

    Excellent ideas, Rosie! And you are so right about teenagers and silence. A suggestion to add: garden or farm together (it makes a great metaphor).

  4. rosiemolinary

    I love it! Gardening or even going out to a farm and picking produce is a brilliant idea.

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