Letter to the Editor

“I would love to know why there aren’t more parents involved in the Washington Park School.  I am the PTO president, and if it weren’t for us, there wouldn’t be any field trips or class picnics.  We raise money so that all of our children can have such things.  When  we have any functions, it is the same group of parents who help.  We have monthly meetings, and maybe two to five parents come, the same ones each month.  We just had elections for new board members, but only one came.  How sad is that?  It is a great school and a great way of getting to know the teachers and the principals.”
 

To the “president” I offer my condolences and the reality of our culture’s “let someone else do it” philosophy.  A number of years ago, presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton coined the phrase, “It takes a village to raise a child.”  I’m not sure this is the philosophy she had in mind, but we, those of us who get involved, are that village.  We are raising the children of those mothers and fathers who have abdicated their responsibility as parent(s).  Last fall, at Trinity High School’s “senior recognition night, two students asked band directors to escort them because their parents were unavailable.  Granted, there may have been extenuating circumstances, but it makes one wonder.
 

Our “Pews to Streets” program is hosting and feeding participants in the “Strengthening Families” program sponsored by Communities That Care.  Of the ten families who signed-up, only five have made the commitment to attend.  This national, federally funded program is designed to address the issues that are tearing families apart, i.e. communication, education, esteem, drugs, alcohol, sex, and only five families consider these issues to be important.  I echo the words of the PTO president, “How said is that?”
 

Of course, parental abdication and lack of involvement go beyond parent/teacher organizations and the band.  It rears its ugly head in scouting, athletics, academics, community action, public service, the church.  And of course, this systemic condition leads to another phenomenon called “burnout.”  Because the same ten or twenty people continue to do 80-percent of the work, they become frustrated and angered, then quit.  Did I mention that these dedicated few also bear the criticism of those who do not participate.  And isn’t that the way it always is? 
 

Folks, if you’re a parent, get involved and stay involved in your child’s life.  We have them for such a short period of time and that time goes ever so quickly.  I’m reminded of a song from the 70s, written and sung by Harry Chapin.  It wasn’t one of my favorites, but it had a haunting lesson.  The song told the story of a son and his father who was never around when the son reached important milestones; always too busy.  The refrain went something like this: “When I grow up, I want to be just like you, Dad, I want to be just like you.”  And that’s exactly the way the song ended.  Dad, now in his golden years, wanted to see his son, but his son was too busy. 
 

We have been called by God to provide the very best examples to our children.  I know we are busy, but like our heavenly Father who is never too busy for his children, we should never be too busy for the precious gift he has given us.