I am aware of the power dynamics in our teaching-learning relationship, and I have been thinking about how to use my position as a mentor to ensure that it is not getting in the way of a true partnership.
I have been reflecting on my experiences as a supervisor and mentor, and I have noticed that there are times when I have tried to exert too much control over my mentee. This is especially true when they do not seem to be learning or growing at the pace that I want them to. When this happens, I find myself becoming frustrated because it makes me feel like they are not doing their part to help improve themselves or our relationship.
However, now that I am thinking about how these dynamics might be affecting our relationship, I think it would be best for both of us if I took some time off from being so critical of their progress. Instead of focusing on what they are not doing well enough for me (which will cause friction), perhaps we could focus on what each of us does well so that we can build up our strengths together rather than tearing them down when they fail at something?