WHAT MISS MARPLE KNOWS...ADAPT AND CHANGE

I was reading a NYT article today about how separated parents are coping with the challenges of Covid 19. The author, Hannah Ingber explains that when social distancing in the US started she was worried about how co-parenting would work. Ingber and her ex-partner were in conflict over many parenting decisions.  She is surprised and relieved to find that the petty differences between them fall away as they grapple with how to manage risks for their children. Perhaps in years to come it will become common practice to include pandemic arrangements in mediated agreements between separating parents.  At present this is not the norm.

What is part of normal mediation practice is working to help parents to child-focus and to strengthen and re-imagine a co-parental alliance.  The shared common value of keeping children safe can be a bridge for parents to adapting and changing. Adapting to the new circumstances; and changing established views of the other parent as the 'enemy'. The relative unimportance of that additional extracurricular activity, or whether handover is at 6pm or 7pm, is highlighted when parents must work together for basic health issues. this bridge can lead parents to shift from the negative views and beliefs about the other person as an adult, to a new vision of the other person as a co-parent. In the role of co-parent there is a chance for redemption and trust.

This ability to adapt and change is one Miss Marple has in spades.  In "A Caribbean Mystery" she encounters Jason Rafiel, a rich and highly cantankerous man whom she wisely decides to avoid.  However, through a series of circumstances, it becomes clear that Mr Rafiel has hidden depths of empathy and kindness. They become allies and work to solve the spate of murders at the resort. 

If Miss Marple had held strong to her original beliefs about Mr Rafiel she would have lost the chance for his support and wisdom during her investigation, and his friendship thereafter. Without doubt, Miss Marple is justified in her negative opinion of Mr Rafiel's behaviour.  What becomes apparent though is his intrinsic worth as a person is obscured by some of his behaviours.  For many people in conflict, the behaviours are synonymous with the person.  We observe the behaviours and weigh the worth (or otherwise) of the person themselves.  As Miss Marple knows, people contain 'multitudes' (thank you Walt Whitman). 

Being open to adapt and change, gives Miss Marple the edge in her investigation.  In conflict, being open-minded can enable a shift in mindset from warring enemies to co-parents who can put their children first. Miss Marple knows that the charming host may conceal the murderer, the gentle lady in the next pew may be the poison pen writer.  We need to be just as open to change and adapter as Miss Marple.

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