Funny thing about Parenthood. While it's THE most important job we have, it seems to be the job no one has to be the least bit qualified for, apart for being able to make the kid! THAT has GOT to change! For pity's sake, you have to have a license to run a flamin' hot dog vending cart, doesn't it stand to reason that new parents should know what to do if their child develops Cholic?
Then, (DARE IT SAY IT?!) shouldn't there be at least one WORKING parent in the home? Someone with a job that brings in an income? I mean, raising kids ain't cheap. Diapers, milk, clothes, toys. Besides which, the environment of the home sets the standard, the (pardon the language) EXAMPLE for how the kids see life in the home and, eventually, in the bigger world around them. Kids look to their parents first of all, so be the example you would want your kids to learn from.
If every child (TRULY) matters, then the parents should WANT to be the example that would see their kids doing them proud in the future! If parents are doing their own thing, and the kids are just part of their day, (IF that!) then those kids will do their own thing, in the future; not caring any more for their 'parents' say-so than their parents cared for what they were teaching their child, either by actions or neglect or both.
There was a statement I heard from my father; "Do as I SAY, NOT as I do." Because he didn't set a positive example. He just wanted to be the authority. Well, that advice or rule or whatever it was intend to be went down faster than the Titanic. Kids follow what they SEE their parents do.
And here, I am going to quote THE most UNLIKELY source of PARENTAL advice, you'd think. Remember Bobby, The BRAIN/ WEASEL Heenan? Pro-wrasslin' ROYALTY. If you're a fan of wrassling and know the history of the game, then the name Bobby Heenan is in your vocabulary. He was a bad guy as both a wrestler and a manager and even a 'broadcast journalist' as he called himself. BUT then, he co-authored two books, chronicling his wrestling career and life. In his second book, Chair Shots, he talked, with parental joy at being a new dad, but went one better. I actually underlined the statement and wrote AMEN, TWICE, in red pencil crayon.
"...I was so happy! It was such an incredible moment, a moment I allowed to change my life. Some parents have babies and go back to the way they were ; not allowing the new life change their existing lives. That's NOT the way it works. Everything in your life changes, from that moment on. Your routine and your priorities change . If they don't and you don't allow them to, you shouldn't have bothered to have a kid in the first place." {Chair Shots~ Bobby Heenan and Chris Anderson. Pg. 103 }
AMEN and AMEN, Weasel! Would that he was still with us for me to say an in-person (or even an EMAIL) heartfelt THANK YOU for such priceless parental COMMON SENSE.
IF 'EVERY CHILD MATTERS' in any HONEST sense of that sentiment, then they should matter enough for the parents to be there for them. To WANT their priorities to revolve around their children and raising their children to be the best they can be. Going the extra mile to help encourage their kids to reach the goals, and even directing their kids, based on the interests their kids have.
"WOW! You're great at writing. Maybe you should be a journalist!" Or, "Your science marks are amazing! Are you thinking of pursuing a career as a doctor or research scientist?"
On the other hand, if the kid is just there, but you have your own interests you want to pursue, can you HONESTLY, in your gut of guts, say that THAT child matters to you? No. In which case, waving the 'EVERY CHILD MATTERS' banner is nothing more than sentiment. It's tragically MEANINGLESS, unless those words are followed up with action!
PROVE that Every Child Matters by LOVING and RAISING your kids to be the best they can be, or don't bother waving the 'Every Child Matters' banner. Who'll believe you?
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