Adults as Role Models
Source/Author: Mike Murphy, Headmaster
January 29, 2016
Many of us have been in situations when little children have publically blurted out a vulgarity and when reprimanded reply, “But my daddy says that all the time when the Bucs lose,” or something to that effect. If we give serious consideration to the idea that our children will follow our lead, those of us who have children or work closely with them realize we have an enormous responsibility to model positive, joyous, healthy, safe and respectful behavior.
Today was Grandparents and Special Friends Day at Shorecrest. Our children had some of the best opportunities to observe the best role models imaginable. Grandparents tend to revel in just being able to see their young hosts participate. Our program is designed to let our children perform onstage and to share a classroom activity with their grandparents and special friends. No one is competing, so our guests and our children get to focus on the joy of the activity.
Grandparents and Special Friends Day is one of those times when unconditional love is modeled and evident campus-wide. There is a great deal written about how the “parenting skills” of grandparents are often much more nurturing and accepting with their grandchildren than they were with their own children. While grandparents expect generally good manners and behavior, they tend to be more understanding as children go through stages of development and make life choices.
What can we learn about parenting from watching our grandparents and special friends? What do their “once removed” perspectives and their life experiences offer?
It’s not unusual to think that you’ll parent differently than your parents did you. I’ve already noted that many grandparents change their methods with their grandchildren. So, there may be more agreement on that topic of how to parent than one might presume. I know I would love to alter some of the experiences I had with my boys. It is hard work being a parent, and unless one grew up with much younger siblings, there are not many opportunities in life that really prepare us to be a parent. We all get to be rookies. If we are smart, we will seek out great mentors to help us along the way. Parenting, like other important roles, can be bolstered by cooperative and collaborative exchanges.
While today is a day where we celebrate the relationships with our students and their Grandparents and Special Friends, it may also be a time when parents reflect on the lessons they learned as children and the lessons they could be learning today from veterans of the parenting experience and people who care greatly about their own children.
Cheers to our Grandparents, their children and their grandchildren!
Mike
To learn more about the Grandparents Council at Shorecrest, visit www.shorecrest.org/grandparents
To learn more about the Grandparents Council at Shorecrest, visit www.shorecrest.org/grandparents
