On being a parent

I believe that parenting our children is our most important job. Unfortunately, it is the job that we are least prepared to handle. We have been taught our maths and letters, we have been taught skills to use at work. But the skills of raising a child is sorely lacking in all of us.

Some might disagree with this and say but we clothe them, we send them to school, we give them what they need. And I agree with this. There is, however, a part that remains unattended and left to chance--their emotional and spiritual growth. By spiritual I don't mean religion. By spiritual I mean their person. Who we are at the deepest level of our being. This is the part that is the least nurtured. This is so, not because parents don't want to nurture this part, it is so because we don't know what to do to nurture this part. We parent the way we were raised because there is no other way to learn the skill of parenting.

Parents today are lucky because there are resources that abound. There are books, magazines, even speakers who talk about raising children. I am one of those who advocate for the child through better parenting practices. After all, the parent is the child's main formator. The teachers and other mentors are just their partners.

Children are God's gifts to humankind. They were given in our care to nurture, grow and guide so that they can reach their true potential. Reaching their potential and their destiny will be difficult, however, if they carry their hurts and bruises until they die.

My partners and I will reach out to parents through seminars and workshops that will help them nurture their child's inner life.