May 9

Bus meeting in Hepburn today.  What a wonderful feeling to come out of the bus meeting to pouring rain and robins singing their hearts out because of the earthworm feast.

Principal's Message from April 2009 (Forgive me if you I have already posted this one.)

The greatest act of love is for one person to give their life to save another.  Relax; you do not have to throw yourself on a grenade to save your child.  Your life is made up of time- minutes, hours, days, and years.  Time is what constitutes your life.  When I ask parents to give their life to save their child, I am asking that they give their time. 

The issue of time was brought to mind recently in a conversation I had with our school counsellor, Ms. Ippolito.  Our School Community Council had asked me to approach Ms. Ippolito about presenting a message about parenting an adolescent at one of next year’s School Community Council meetings.  Of course, the parents wanted to know how to talk to their children about peer pressure, drug abuse, sexuality, body image, and challenges related to raising an adolescent.  I was informed that the topic could be covered in a matter of millennia not minutes so I would have to narrow the topic down somewhat.  I tried a different tack by stating, “If you could stand on a soapbox and deliver any message, what would it be?” 

She responded that she would tell parents to spend time with their kids, eat meals together, turn off the TV, and engage in meaningful conversation.  If parents spent time with their children, it would be easy for parents to share their values and guide their children through a very challenging stage of life.  That would be her presentation – then we could go home.

Yes, spending time with children is the key – not just quality time.  Spend quantity time.  There is no guarantee when advice on child rearing is involved, but it is safe to say that children who spend generous amounts of time with their parents are less involved in crime, participate in fewer self destructive behaviours, and are generally happier, healthier people.  After over thirty years of teaching, I can say with certainty that children who were cooperative, compassionate, congenial, and productive came from homes where quantity time was spent with children.

As I look back on the time I have spent with my children, I do not remember having one defining conversation about sex, drugs, or good choices.  However, I do remember having thousands of conversations.  Don’t let your life mirror the Harry Chapin song, Cat’s In the Cradle.  Instead of wondering how to have “The Talk”, give your life for your child and have “The Talks.”