The Over-Involved Parent

10/18/2005

Hope is like a road in the country: there was never a road, but when many people walk on it, the road comes into existence.
Lin Yutang

In the September, 2005 issue of Exchange, in her article, "The Demanding, Questioning, Over-Involved Parent: That Would Be Me," Gigi Schweikert talked about the "us" and "them" issue of working with parents. Here are a few excerpts from this insightful article:

"Like many of us in the child care field, I’m an "us," an early childhood professional, and a "them," a parent. As a professional, I’m usually rational, consistent, and solution oriented. But when it comes to my own kids, I can become irrational and emotionally driven. The thought of a conference with my three-year-old's preschool teacher can make my palms sweat. I'm convinced that whatever my kid's teacher has to say about the quality of his finger-painting skills and social interactions on the playground will definitely determine the fate of his Ivy League education.

"While my "us" side, an educator, writes articles about parenting on topics like discipline, nutrition, and limiting television viewing, my "them" side, the parent, puts my kids in front of the television and hurls Oreo® cookies their way if one of my children approaches the computer so I can get my "expert work about parenting" completed. It’s much easier to write about parenting than to be a parent….

"If we really want to value parents, to form an alliance, we have to understand who they are. At times, there is nothing rational or predictable about being a parent and their wanting the best for their child. We don't always know, nor do we need to know, the circumstances and lives of each parent. Hey, we'd all love it if the parents never complained, paid their tuition on time, listened to our advice, and did everything we said; since we are, in fact, "the experts." But as inconvenient as it may be, we should expect good parents to be demanding, questioning, and involved. Why? It’s good for their child."

The entire Schweikart article excerpted above can be found on the Exchange web site at http://mail.ccie.com/go/eed/823

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