I have to confess to being a bit of a musical theatre ‘tragic’, so when Production Week comes around I am definitely in my happy place. Last week was no exception, especially as Mamma Mia! is on my (long) list of favourite shows. We all knew that we were going to be in for a treat with the glimpses of our show at Open Day and School Assembly, but I think that the actual shows exceeded all expectations. What a wonderful showcase of consistent hard work and effort, team play, talent and sheer fun! Congratulations to everyone involved, and particular thanks to the wonderful staff who gave up so much of their time to make the experience of a show like this available to our students.

As the busyness of the production rolls into the academic busyness of the second half of Term 2, I have been reflecting on an article that I read some time ago by psychologist Dr Lisa Damour, author of a number of books including Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls. She has spent many years working with teenage girls and their families and has noticed a societal change in attitudes towards stress and anxiety over recent years:

“Somehow a misunderstanding has grown up about stress and anxiety where our culture now sees both as pathological. The upshot is that we have adults and young people who are stressed about being stressed and anxious about being anxious.”

Just as those involved with the Performing Arts are aware that some stress is normal, and maybe even helpful when performing, Dr Damour believes that stress and anxiety are normal, healthy functions. She says that much of the anxiety that teenagers express is a sign that they are aware of their surroundings, mindful of their growing responsibilities, and frightened of things that are, in fact, scary. She counsels that adults can make a difference simply by “reassuring them that, a great deal of the time, stress is just operating as a friend and ally to them,” and that the anxiety that comes with stretching to face challenges is part of how humans develop strength.

She also addresses the issue of the “meltdowns” and reassuringly shares her view that “If you are raising a normally developing teenage daughter, she will have meltdowns. And there’s nothing you can do to prevent that.” She says that it’s easy to see a meltdown as a fire that’s about to turn into a conflagration but finds a storm to be a better metaphor. I encourage you to read the article, it has lots of practical advice for parents. I particularly liked the part on the two words for keeping teens in the driver’s seat: “stinks” and “handle”. Enjoy the read.

Ms Narelle Umbers
Principal