Parenting Practices Producing Progress, Prosperity & Posterity

INTRODUCTION

The family was put in place by God as an institution upon the earth. In it, God intended harmony and happiness to abound. Within the family however, numerous negative occurrences have been plaguing this important unit the world over. Moreover, the relationships among family members have at times been strained, thereby affecting the overall tone in the home. To add to this, the cultural landscape, outside of the home has exerted tremendous influence, both positive and negative, on family members at different times and to varying degrees of intensity. I am firm in my view that the family is largely responsible for shaping attitudes and values within its members, being the first agent of socialization.

I have had the opportunity to interact with members of families at different levels. This included meeting some as a student in the classroom, youth group, at a camp, retreat or workshop. It also involved interacting with others in the counselling room, at a school’s parent day or even a graduation ceremony. Wherever I met with them one thing became extremely clear- families of all types are subject to challenges of one type or another in raising their children. Over the years, in addressing parents and children publicly and in private, I have sought to understand both “worlds” and offer encouraging counsel to facilitate the both sides working together for the greater good of the individual, family and the wider society.

This work is therefore simply putting into writing, in one volume, much of what I’ve been sharing over the years at different fora. In so doing, I have been able to draw meaningfully on my own experiences within my family; my experiences as a school teacher; my experiences as an Ordained Minister of Religion and my experiences as a Licensed Marriage officer.

The contents of this book for the most part seek to alert parents, to the several roles we are called upon to execute. In attempting to execute these roles, we must be ever mindful of the tide of opposition and wave of complexity that would come against even our best efforts. However, we cannot quit and we must not quit. With unrelenting fervor, each parent must commit to perform his/her roles dutifully to his/her children. This commitment assumes an urgency of even greater proportions, especially when one recognizes that children are an heritage of the Lord and we are acting as custodians who must give an account of our stewardship.

Having been given to us by God, there is therefore an expectation that our children would be properly nurtured and developed. I am acutely aware that as parents, we can be so pressed by the daily responsibilities of life that some aspects of parenting can be overlooked. This may not always occur because of carelessness or indifference, but at times because of the many competing matters that are vying for attention. Unfortunately though, it is the omission to give the required attention to some of these matters, even the small ones, that can lead to a deleterious, dangerous degeneration with our children. Sadly, only when that stage is glaringly evident, are some parents forced to reset their entire schedules and refocus their attention to give adequate attention to the matter at hand. Even then, some may still be too busy or otherwise engaged, to take corrective action.

It is my sincere hope that mothers and fathers, young couples, those preparing to start a family, grandparents, teachers, aunts and uncles, and all those involved in the noble task of raising children will find the contents of this book to be not merely informative and inspirational, but content that can be meaningfully implemented.

The ensuing work is therefore intended to highlight some of the critical areas in children’s lives that need to be given priority attention. To these, I’m sure each parent can add some more. However, if these are consciously, carefully and consistently practised by parents, the trajectory on which the children, the family and society would be placed, would be one of progress and prosperity thereby ensuring the preservation of a positive posterity.