Last week I wrote about darling Lauren and how she is already reading. In reality, Lauren is responding to the attention and the time her parents are giving her, and she is learning every minute they spend with her.
I could write reams about what great parents they are and tell you some more of the wonderful things Lauren is doing, but what I want to do is ask you think along with me about parenting, and how parenting skills are transmitted from one generation to the next. In other words, how do young parents know what to do with their children?
Just a few years ago we either assumed folks having children knew what to do with them or else they did know. Parenting skills were thought to be genetically transferred from parent to child, like hair color and body shape.
Either way, concerns about how to teach parenting skills did not then, as they do now, generate topics in professional journals, popular magazines and school, church and social gatherings. Parenting is such an issue now that entire companies are being founded with the goal of providing materials for parent education classes.
Obviously, parenting skills are not inherited like skin color and noses. But would you agree that a primary place good parents are made is in the houses where good parents live? Perhaps not always, but if kids have had good parents they will pass on the nurturing and caring that has been provided for them to their children.
Parents can therefore shape the behaviors of the next generation in the way they rear their children who, in turn, become parents. That plan works great for those of us with good parents ... but what about those of us who grew up with not-so-good or even abusive parents? Are we doomed to repeat these parenting methods?
I have heard of the child who, upon hearing that God was like his father, burst into tears. His father was abusive, even dangerous, so the child had no concept of a father as loving and nurturing. For children growing up without good role models, a parent education class is often the only answer to gaining information that will enable them to function as good parents.
Parent education classes are great choices for any parents. Think of the multitude of topics we as parents need to be aware of ... from the challenging nutritional needs of children to medical, social and academic issues.
Parents wear so many “hats” ... in addition to professional responsibilities outside the house, they juggle time, money, space, children, and more, in an effort meet the needs of everyone. I don’t know how up on the “stress scale” parenting falls, but I know many parents who are stressed.
Parenting classes offer innovative and interesting ideas for stress management in addition to other topics. All of these classes are focused on helping parents produce a “product”, a well-balanced, capable, self-confident child who will grow into a happy and productive adult.
Investing time in attending parenting classes will pay big dividends for your family now and for generations to come. Give it a try, even if you know you are doing a great job already. If you don’t learn anything new, you will surely be able to help someone else.
