Coping skills

What do you do when you're faced with a situation you don't want to deal with?

I find myself simply avoiding it. Shying away from having to push through and sort it out.

I ran into two of those first thing this morning while dealing with student applications. I have one parent insisting I put aside a policy regarding late applications, as he had already applied for his daughter elsewhere before applying here - so reckons he shouldn't have to pay the late fee (which really isn't my problem - it was his choice to apply to two places at once). Another has paid a portion of what is required, and wishes me to assure the embassy that he has paid the full amount, so his sons can receive visas.

Both, I'm not sure how to handle. We need students, and insisting on policy implementation in the former case may cause this man to take his child elsewhere. Waiting for outstanding fees in the latter will mean those two boys may not be able to register in time this year, and have to wait until next year - or withdraw and go elsewhere.

So do I bend rules? Do I do some careful dancing around issues and try to please everyone?

I don't know.

Instead I find myself doing other things. Like blogging. And fiddling with my Konfabulator settings. And cleaning out a desk drawer.

I know I'll have to sort it out this morning. I need to find a solution, quickly. But I've never been one for conflict, and I'd rather avoid it than deal with it. It's a personality thing. I have to grit my teeth and go forward, make myself do something that doesn't come naturally for me.

But not just yet.