I sat in a meeting today with a student, two other teachers and the parent. The student has been sleepy in class. When questioned about it, he admitted to not getting much sleep. Mom chimes in (like she is proud of herself) stating he has a bedtime. 11:00. 11:00???!!! At 13 years of age, he needs as much sleep as a toddler! AND she talked about how he liked to stay up playing Modern Warfare. REALLY??? So, you let him stay up, and you let him play violent video games. When WE presented her with the things happening in school and the facts about how much sleep he needs, she decided to change his bedtime. Whose job is it to parent?
My experience with students has been wide and varied. I have had pre-teens who have to leave school to go straight home and take care of younger siblings. I have had students with children who leave those children with their parents while they go off and do their thing. I have had students being raised by grandparents. I have had students whose "job" it is to take their younger siblings to ball games and practices. Whose job is it to parent?
I am by no means trying to say I am perfect, nor a perfect parent. I make mistakes. I yell when I shouldn't. I lose my temper. I don't ALWAYS make sure my kids have a fruit or vegetable at every meal. We have sugar in the house. But, I also limit their sweets, don't allow my kids to have soda very often, and monitor their TV and internet use. I spend time with my kids. I read what they read, I watch what they watch. I talk to them, I listen to them. Why do I do this? I do it in the hopes that one day, they will NEVER have to ask me, "Whose job was it to parent?"
2 comments:
Amen- I wish more parents would take responsibility for their children. If parents would actually parent the world would be a much better place. I am sick of hearing that as a teacher failure is my fault. I am sick of hearing, "what do you expect me to do, I can't make him behave in school." We are raising a generation that has no boundaries, and demands instant gratification.
Shannon you are a good parent - a responsible parent. But here's something I learned from an "outstanding" parent and mentor of mine. "There are no perfect parents. Even if we were perfect parents, it wouldn't guarantee our kids would turn out well. God was the only perfect parent, and He had trouble with his kids! But that was because he values choice over control. He gave us free will, which includes the option to either turn to him and live life to please him or make bad choices!" If I were God, would try to control everyone and make them take care of their kids, work a steady job, and otherwise live responsibly. For some reason that I still struggle with, God is not like me! He lets us make bad choices, even when it hurts our kids. So here's where I land: "Jesus is the answer for the world today." Bad parenting, teen pregnancy, drugs, alcohol, dui...all of these things are just symptoms of the fact that those individuals aren't relying on Jesus. That's why I'm so excited about what you guys are doing. As you lead people to Christ, modeling a different way of living, you will change a small piece of this big world. I know it's been hard, but don't give up - there's lots of work to do. Be strong and stay on task. Alot of people here love you and pray for you. We are very proud of you!!
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