Back To School Night

If you have kids you’ve gone to a back to school night this fall. I went to high school last week. There I was with all the other parents changing classes and getting lost in the halls. I like to go. It’s the only time I will see these teachers. I like to put a face to the name my son will talk about with delight and disgust throughout the year.

As I sat in each class and listened to the speeches about what my son would cover in his sophomore year of chemistry, French, history and so on I thought about how these people have such a great influence over him. Not the grades they will give and he will earn but the life experiences they bring to the classroom and the kind of people they are. I was excited for my son to dive into his year. (He was probably not as thrilled.) In high school he is getting into bigger life questions. By now 2 x 2 is in his bones but he has yet to try calculus. His ABC’s are second nature but he’s not read Homer. Even in PE he’ll try sports he’s never played before, tennis and golf. The amount of things we learn over a lifetime take more than mom and dad to present. So there is a need for a whole troop of other teachers.

I was thinking this week about all those other teachers. Sure mom and dad have a big influence, but so do friends, teachers, pastors, coaches, directors, secretaries, aides. The list is quite long. Chances are you find yourself on the list somewhere. You probably have influence over some young people in your life. From acknowledging them at church to helping them out at school. From driving carefully through school zones to enjoying their laughter in parks. Children and young adults are all around us and whether we work with them directly or not we have an impact on their lives.

I encourage you to take a moment to remember your influence over the young people in your world. Not every age group many appeal to you still as grown ups we have a responsibility to be a positive force not just a disciplinary one. Greeting the young kindly, driving safely, simply smiling at them! All are actions they notice. They are watching us to try and figure out how to live. Let’s hope we are showing off the best ways to thrive.

Posted 9/26/2008 @ 7:37 AM | Weekly Thoughts