Education for Parents

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with my daughter's teacher and talk to her about the education of my daughter.  I was so happy, though not surprised, to hear that my daughter was doing really well in school.  My daughter has always been very attentive and that has definitely extended to her education.  I would love to say thank you to the teachers that has helped to shape my child's learning ability.  The truth is she is in Kindergarten and I know that whatever she learns now will determine what and how she learns for the rest of her life.

Although teachers have helped to guide my child's education, I have to say that her father and I have always taught her the things that she knows.  I believe that if parents are a greater part of their child's education, then the child will have a greater chance of being a very successful adult.  When I was a child I loved to learn but I wanted it to come easy.  As an adult, I can name every single teacher that taught me from Headstart through Senior year.  Unfortunately for me, knowing all my teacher's name wasn't enough for me to become a teacher in a classroom.  Instead I'm a teacher to my children.  I'm their first teacher.  As I sat in this Parent/Teacher meeting to get an update about how my 5 year old was handling her first year in "big school", I looked around and the room was practically empty.  There were only six parents in the room including myself.  For me, this was a very important meeting.  The teacher was giving us an update on our kids progress.  She also wanted to tell us what to expect in the next three months and what we can do to aid in our child's education.

After the meeting I started thinking about the parents who had missed out on this meeting.  I thought to myself, what can be more important than this.  For me, I wouldn't have missed this meeting and if I had to, I would have found a substitute for me.  I'm not judging anybody but as parents we have to do much better as educators of our kids.  I want more for my children than I have.  I want them to be better through education.  I know that teachers can not do it alone.  It pains me to know that some parents care more about athletics than education; they care more about going party than participating in their child's education.  Than they wonder why their kids can't spell their own name or count to 10.  I'm not saying don't care about the other things but life should have some balance with education leading the pack.  I understand that some parents are busy, hell I have a full time job 45 minutes from home, but you can still have balance.  My daughter can read and even write a small story and she is 5 years old.  She knows her numbers to 100 and the sounds of the alphabet.  She knows her shapes and how to draw pictures.  She has manners and loves to play with her brother and teach him everything she knows.  She is a smart and beautiful little girl and her father and I and our families deserve some of the credit. 

I had an epiphany after the parent meeting.  Since I have become a parent, I thought my life had been boring.  For the past 5 years I have basically been with my kids.  I don't go clubbing (by my choice).  I haven't really done anything without my kids, except the occasional R. Kelly concert.  I literally thought I was such a bore.  What I realized is that I have invested my life in my children's future.  I have made decisions to stay in and teach them rather than hanging out and partying.  What I know for sure is that I have put my kids' education above my own social life because I truly want more for them than I have.  This is not about putting parents down for not attending a parent meeting.  This is about opening your eyes to see that your kid's future depend on what you do right now.  I'm saying that your participation in their education gives them confidence to want to do better in school.  They are paying attention to everything you do, say and care about.  You can change the direction of their life if you participate in their education.  If you think going to a Parent/Teacher meeting is not important, think again.  If you think reading them a book or helping them write their names is not important, think again.  If you think listening to your kids tell a story or read a book is not important, think again.  If you think wanting better for your kids is not important, think again.  You are your child's first and most important teacher.  They want you to guide them in the right direction.  They need you to be tough on them when it comes to their education.  You have to teach them more than what they learn at school so that they can be ready for this thing called life.  I know this sounds cliche' but the kids are truly the future.  If you don't want to be a roadblock to their success, then you need to drive the education car of their lives.

PARENTS & EDUCATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!