Back to School in Fort Worth
It’s the third day of school and somewhere in the Fort Worth Independent School District, a child has been suspended, reassigned to another class/school, been beat up, bullied, passed to the next grade, gotten first chair in band, and/or made the first team in athletics. All in the first week, a mere matter of only three days. You may sit amazed in wonderment at these statistics, but somewhere in the FWISD they are a reality.
A large portion of the difference in statistics lies in the attitude/spiritual fortitude of the each child’s parents. No two children are alike and thusly, no parenting style can be replicated producing success for different children. Children are as unique as their genetic makeup. With that being said, the challenge of parenting school age children becomes quite difficult with the dawning of each new school year. On Facebook Monday evening Amy Young shared this very interesting story of her now adult son:
One more back to school tip. I was thinking about my son’s 7th grade year (he’s 26 now…) Anyway…every year…I would meet his teachers and I would do that “parent” thing to let them know that I was available to them…and give them my contact numbers…in case they “had any trouble” out of him. Low and behold…I knew that phone call was coming…because I had prompted them to look “for trouble
out of him”.
But his 7th grade year, I decided to do something different. Instead of doing the usual heads up warning to his teachers, I put together a nice little handout that introduced my son. On the handout I listed his strengths…what he was good at, etc. When I met his teachers this time, I had this list in hand…and I sat down and told them how “great” he was…his strong points, etc. Now this really worked, because he had transferred schools, and his records hadn’t followed him yet. So they had no information to base how they would treat my child on…but his actions…and my word.
Needless to say…this was my son’s best year! His teachers would send home “happy notes”–and I’d NEVER gotten those before! Lol. When I made pop-up visits and phone calls, he was on task…and the teachers gave reports of how well he was doing. I’d never seen this kind of confidence in my son. This was a great year.
I’m sharing this to say…make sure you are your child’s advocate. Now…I’m not talking that getting up in people’s face…neck working thing. That only teaches your child disrespect for authority.
I’m saying…look for your child’s strengths…and help them build on that. Don’t take it for granted that teachers can always see into your child. They have a lot going on. Be able to offer positive insight and feedback. I think you’ll see a world of difference!
The Law of Confession
When Amy changed her confession from “call me when there’s trouble” to “these are his strong points” her son’s behavior changed to suit his mother’s confession. Children are impressionable and it is shocking how they will shift their behavior good or bad according to their parents’ confession over them. More importantly, as believers our words are equipped with power and are potent enough to speak even literal life or death.
Amy’s story is inspirational at the very least; children are what you shape them to be! Jesus taught the disciples to give children their time with Him. He taught incessantly about approaching the Kingdom ‘as a child’. In Amy’s story, her son became what she saw in him. It wasn’t by faith that he became those things, they were already there. Once the presence of negativity was removed, her son became a new (creation) student. This isn’t to say that her son never got in trouble again, but it does shine a light on the role parents have in the development their children’s God given, intrinsic characteristics and qualities.
Two more days remain before the first week is over and impressions are more than likely set for the year. What will your child(ren) be this year? Class clown, valedictorian, school bully, truant delinquent, underachiever? It’s in your hands parents; don’t squander this perfect opportunity to start a healthy trend in the life of your little learners!
