Tonight I met with the Centralia Junior Women's Club to evaluate the essays of local 5th graders who nominated who they thought deserved to be honored as "Parent of the Year"! Everyone from sisters, cousins, aunts, grandparents, mothers, and fathers were covered! As I read through my stack and the pile of finalists, it became abundantly and unfortunately clear to me that there are SO many children in the world who think that doing things like paying bills, buying food, and helping with homework are qualities that make their parent outstanding.
I've tried, for hours now, to make sense of this. Is it because they have so many friends who don't have this type of figure in their lives? Is it because their parents haven't always been proficient in the parenting department? Why, in 2016, is a parent doing a parent's job now defined as outstanding?
Here are what I consider commonly understood obligations of a parent:
1.) Feeding your children
2.) Providing shelter for your children
3.) Taking your children to school
4.) Teaching your children the difference between right and wrong
5.) Providing educational and entertaining activities for your children
6.) Clothing your children
Here are a few behaviors I consider "exceptional" in the realm of parenting
1.) involving your children in extra-curricular activities and BEING PRESENT and INVOLVED
2.) Providing your children with cultural opportunities that teach them diversity acceptance
3.) Teaching your children the value of hard work
4.) Making daily quality time a priority
5.) Being as involved as you can in your child's education
After a very enlightened evening I came home to check my Facebook feed, as per usual, and found MORE bigoted vitriol from a 'man' who considers himself a 'religious leader' (riding on the coat tails of his "famous" father). His nonsense only shows up in my feed because a member or two of my biological family dote over his ignorant, fear-fueled, bigoted nonsense!
I COULD ramble ON and ON about what makes a good, furthermore EXCEPTIONAL religious leader, but I think at the end of the day, we ALL know that their most significant obligation is to share the love of Christ. Working tirelessly to strip innocent humans of their civil rights? Not so much!
Hope you're having a great week!! Thanks for staying tuned!!
I've tried, for hours now, to make sense of this. Is it because they have so many friends who don't have this type of figure in their lives? Is it because their parents haven't always been proficient in the parenting department? Why, in 2016, is a parent doing a parent's job now defined as outstanding?
Here are what I consider commonly understood obligations of a parent:
1.) Feeding your children
2.) Providing shelter for your children
3.) Taking your children to school
4.) Teaching your children the difference between right and wrong
5.) Providing educational and entertaining activities for your children
6.) Clothing your children
Here are a few behaviors I consider "exceptional" in the realm of parenting
1.) involving your children in extra-curricular activities and BEING PRESENT and INVOLVED
2.) Providing your children with cultural opportunities that teach them diversity acceptance
3.) Teaching your children the value of hard work
4.) Making daily quality time a priority
5.) Being as involved as you can in your child's education
After a very enlightened evening I came home to check my Facebook feed, as per usual, and found MORE bigoted vitriol from a 'man' who considers himself a 'religious leader' (riding on the coat tails of his "famous" father). His nonsense only shows up in my feed because a member or two of my biological family dote over his ignorant, fear-fueled, bigoted nonsense!
I COULD ramble ON and ON about what makes a good, furthermore EXCEPTIONAL religious leader, but I think at the end of the day, we ALL know that their most significant obligation is to share the love of Christ. Working tirelessly to strip innocent humans of their civil rights? Not so much!
Hope you're having a great week!! Thanks for staying tuned!!
I couldn't agree more, but I guess I would have to ask about the age and situation of the children. I'm guessing they are writing about what they know. Let's hope as the continue to grow and begin to understand there is a much bigger and wider world out there, they will begin to see the and understand the second portion of your list is what makes the beginning of a kind and accepting person. Which to me are pretty much the two qualities you need. If those are in place, everything else pretty much falls in line.
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