Childraising—
The Toughest Job

Parents who are actively involved in the education of their children are partners with the schools in ensuring the success of each child. When parents reinforce the need for a child to complete homework and study for tests they are teaching their offspring skills needed for the future. Think about it, what is a job, but the completion of a task?

I applaud all of the parents who make the effort to go to school meetings, and who are in dialog with the school. You are showing your children you care about their education. You are setting a good example of being involved.

The longest job anyone ever has is the job of raising children. It extends into decades and can be extremely hard. A child will push the parameters of their surroundings constantly, because they are learning what is acceptable through experimentation. By setting limits, you are showing your children how to become people who know what is right. When a parent lets their children know that good behavior is required around other people (adults, teachers and children), they are ensuring that their child will have the social skills to successfully interact in the world.

Sometimes there are issues that leave a parent at a loss for what to do. I remember being in that situation with each of our children. I found contacting other parents with older children gave us good solutions. At one point I even contacted an older student and got very good advice on how to handle an issue.

As has been said many times, "It takes a community to raise a child." We can all work together to support our schools and our parents who are working at the longest and hardest "job" of educating and raising children to be our future involved adults.

Louise Burt

Bethel

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