Gulf Coast Family

by Joy and Jerry Lancaster

It's school time again here in Pinellas County, the time when thousands of children will be heading back to school to get an education. However, as a parent and now a grandparent, I would remind you that your child's education does not begin or end in school. Where do children learn about good and evil or right and wrong? Where do they learn what is important and what is not? Where do they learn to be curious about the world? Where do they learn to take responsibility for who they are and to aspire to who they can become?

I have learned over the years that real education and teaching begins in the home, the day your child is born. Parents begin preparing children to be successful students from their first days. As I watch my own children, it thrills my heart to see how they interact with their children by teaching them daily. Tucker has already learned a feeling of joy and security from Erika and John. SaraRose and Gage are learning to crawl, and along with their new "freedom," they have had to learn that they must have some boundaries. Katie completely and totally enjoys life, and she learns so much from imitating her big brother and sister. Riker will start kindergarten, and he is not sure he wants to leave Mommy, but he is ready for his next adventure! Julie will be in second grade, and she is eager to see who the new friends in her class will be.

As a person who loved my career as a teacher, I have received a lot of joy just watching my own children be "teachers in the home." Riker's birthday was last month and one of his gifts was a beginning chemistry set. His dad came in from a long shift as a paramedic, and I heard them as John patiently explained to him about making different colors blend together, and how they would form crystals. Riker came bounding up the steps to tell me all about his "speariment"—I could see the excitement all over his face.

Parents, take these moments that you have at home and give your children a love of learning. Read to them from the very beginning—it will give your children an early desire to read for themselves. And, as a former teacher, let me leave you with this word of encouragement&ellips;as hard as it is to leave your little one on that first day of school, make your parting "short and sweet". Probably the only tears shed will be your own. In all my years in the classroom, I never had a child who cried more than 2 or 3 minutes — I PROMISE! Go out, take yourself to breakfast, and enjoy the solitude! It won't last long!