You just don't know

One of the best pieces of advice I've learned from this semester in school came from my Special Education professor. She said that when people "over react" in a situation, she tried to remember that she has no idea what this individual has been through up to this point. This person has come through any set of circumstances that she may or may not be able to identify with and they may not react the way she would in the same set of circumstances, but it is their reaction. So when parents of students don't react the way you want them to, or when students are not responding how you would expect, there are years of circumstances and situations you have no idea about and may change how you interpret a situation.
Thought this was insightful.