COMMUNITIES

Rated GP: Golden Parents

Amour-Mae C. Amor, Parent

Originally published in June edition of Xavier School Parents’ Bulletin

Posted Thursday, 22-Jun-2006 9:12 AM

My son, Aris, will be in the sixth grade in a few months and looking back to the past seven school years, I wonder if I, as a parent, have indeed polished my efforts to achieve gold in my every undertaking.

GOLD (symbol Au) /noun/:  a chemical element; lustrous and yellow precious metal; attractive in color and brightness; durable to the point of virtual indestructibility; highly malleable and usually found in nature in a comparatively pure form; a good conductor of heat and electricity; visually pleasing and workable and does not tarnish or corrode; a highly favored material out of which to craft jewelry, dental work, plating and other decorative objects.

GOLDEN /adjective/:  of gold; colored or shining like gold; precious, excellent

     I am in a reflective disposition once again, as I have the propensity to be, most of the time.  As a parent, it is imperative that I always appraise and evaluate the value system that I espouse, the role I play in the upbringing of my children, and the manner by which I carry myself in all dealings that pertains not just to my personal development but to my family as a whole.  Being a parent is a no-joking matter, much more aiming for gold as we carry on the responsibility of being one. 

“What does gold have to do with parenting? “

     It is an aim, an aspiration. I would like to think that it is every parent’s desire to achieve gold.

… just like when we put priority to awakening the faith of our children by making the Lord’s presence felt in everything that we do and by providing avenues for nurturing a personal relationship with Him.  The spiritual being of our children should be topmost in our list of concerns.  To achieve gold, it is best to practice our faith progressively on a regular basis.  Everyday should be a day of praise and thanksgiving – for a new dawn, for our family and loved ones, for the food set on the dining table, for the air we breathe, for the water we drink, for the sunshine, for good health, for the warmth of love and home, for a child’s smile.  I can go on and on, the list will never end.  A first-rate value system springs from the spiritual orientation of the children.  This should be dealt with as a non-negotiable. 

… just like when we take into consideration the intellectual advancement of our children.  Sending them in a high-quality school is a good start but it shouldn’t stop there.  It is best to reinforce learning gained within the confines of the classroom with practical pursuits which are experienced outside school.  Even simple dinners being partaken by the family could engage the members in healthy and enriching exchange of ideas that would enhance their intellectual capabilities. 

     Vacations or trips to the nearby market or to the province or abroad would significantly increase the children’s curiosity and eventually direct them to intellectual gain.  A ride home from school can be made interesting and advantageous by playing in-car games that encourage inquisitive attitude that ultimately teaches creative thinking.  During family outings, it would be best to spend time to explore the countryside and to encourage a visit to the local libraries and museums.  Reading to and with the children and having them read on their own, too, would undoubtedly pave a way to academic growth. 

     In order to achieve gold, parents should egg the children to go beyond what is fed to them.  Parents should put on themselves the task of making their children realize to never be content with their intellectual gains but to continuously nurture that hunger for knowledge;

… just like when we recognize that the emotional aspect and well-being of our children should also be put to the fore.  Every caring parent should know that the emotional stability of children is cultivated at home.  Parents are unquestionably the greatest factors in the maturity of the affective domain of the children.  To achieve gold, parents should allow their children to express themselves freely to them in order to discover their likes and dislikes, their interests and irritants, their inclinations and weaknesses, their dreams and apprehensions.  It will not be healthy to be judgmental; a full and reasonable support would absolutely do wonders. To say no when we need to, is a must.  We do not like to breed spoiled parents for the future. 

     Smothering our children with hugs and kisses would make them secure and emotionally-balanced.  Parents who demonstrate their affection towards each other and who cultivate and foster healthy friendships would set a good example to the children.  In effect, children would experience healthy interpersonal associations with great confidence and self-assurance.  Moreover, to be friends with our children’s friends would give us an edge in making them feel that we trust their choices and that we value their good judgment;

… just like when we take extra effort to engage in physical activities with our family to promote and ensure a healthy being.  The psychomotor development of our children should not be taken for granted.  Our children should be exposed to a healthy lifestyle where personal hygiene, proper diet and regular exercise must be promoted.  Furthermore, activities that require long sitting hours and exposure to the harmful rays of the computer should be minimized.  What more, attachment to electronic gadgets should not be encouraged for this not only causes eye soreness but tends to shape anti-social individuals. 

     To attain gold in this area, parents should highlight the significance of camaraderie, sense of fitness and achievement as their children find pleasure in developing skills like drawing, tinkering with construction materials, art and craft-making, rappelling, dancing, gardening, sports and other similar abilities.

     You might ask again, what does gold have to do with parenting?

     Please do not get me wrong, I am not claiming to be a guru on parenting, nor am I declaring my sharing to be fast rules for parenting.  I still stand by my claim in my previous article that parenting should be personalized.  However, it would be ideal if parents would aim for gold as they go through the process of personalizing parenting.

    Just like crafting a precious piece of jewelry from gold, parenting is like crafting a precious child from a premium value scheme – a child who stands out because, just like gold, he is lustrous, attractive, bright, durable, in pure form, pleasing, excellent and has values that do not tarnish or corrode. 

     A precious piece of jewelry is not made overnight, but rather, polished through time by a master craftsman. A precious child is not instituted overnight, but rather, polished through the years and polished through immense learning experiences … by golden parents.

As long as I know, in my heart, that I am aiming for gold as I go through my parenting chores,

my son is assured of golden moments with me and the whole family.

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