Parents want the best for their children, and giving over your child's valuable daylight hours to a virtual unknown is unsettling, if not downright scary.
Prayers kick into high gear; parents engage in acute listening to every story that comes out of the school.
How do parents properly oversee without overstepping? It is a delicate game.
It's true--some teachers are better than others, more thoughtful, more engaging, more rigorous, more committed. Your child will, in all likelihood, run into some good and some not so good. A few days may even be harrowing.
But an eye on the long haul may give you enough reassurance to adopt some behaviors that will stop you short from driving your child's teacher(s) crazy.
It's easy to imagine that kids get school reputations. From one year to the next, there is some knowledge of how certain students rise to the known in performance, leadership, behavior, misbehavior, idiosyncrasies, and--here's where it gets tricky--parental legacy.
Yes, parents have a legacy--a reputation--in their child's school as well. They become known in ways that include (1) being gracious and a delight to work with, (2) being rather obnoxious about their child's obvious intelligence/giftedness, (4) being completely inattentive toward the school, or (4) passing judgment on every move of the teacher.
Is it worth the effort to have a great reputation as a school parent? I think it is worth the intention, the forbearance, and the understanding of how learning operates over the long haul. We'll consider this over the next couple of days.
Proverbs 22:
A sterling reputation is better than striking it rich; a gracious spirit is better than money in the bank.Parents, you are among your school's best assets. It can't be done well without you. My encouragement is to help you serve in your niche with grace and purpose.
Tomorrow: Letting discovery happen.
Thanks to a wonderful group of young women who, last evening, helped me remember what the start of school is like for parents.
Comments are welcome at feedyourstrength@gmail.com.
