She slammed her daily planner shut and folded her hands “So
she had a bad day at school did she?”
Was it just me or was her tone condescending? “You know, girls will be girls.” “Maybe you
should chalk this up as a way to teach your daughter some valuable life
lessons.”
Incredulously I stared at her she couldn't possibly be saying these things,
not if she knew what had been going on for so long, not if she knew us and how
we parent, not if she cared about the emotional well-being of my daughter.
The walk to the van was silent and all that ran through my
head was “this is why partnering with parents is essential.”
Maybe this is why so many of the parents in our church
struggle to cross over from the idea of child care or Sunday School teacher, to
spiritual partner and engaged mentor in the life of their child. Is there any other arena where parents partner intentionally with someone who
is influencing their child?
I mean
what does it mean to partner? I’m not talking about you have them these many
hours a week and I have them these many hours a week, but what about both of us
together, communicating and caring for a child, saying the same things. “A partnership is an arrangement in which parties
agree to cooperate to advance their mutual interests.”
What if this woman knew
the signs that my daughter was struggling, withdrawing, confused, unhappy and
hurting. What if this woman knew that we
are engaged parents who want to work with the influences in our daughters' life
to grow her up to be a well-rounded, intelligent, caring and compassionate, God
fearing young woman.
Contrast this picture with
the following night where I poured out my heart to a trusted few women in my
church, who have walked through and prayed through fire for me and my family over
the last few years, who know my children (actually are their small group
leaders), love them like their own and dare to stand with us as we call on God
for wisdom for our child.
This is what
partnering with parents really is. Let us dare to step out, to be different
from society, to trust each other and partner together in raising our children
as followers of Jesus Christ. Two combined influences are much greater
than two influences.
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