It Takes A Village

Wow!  As I write this entry, our little town's basketball team is getting ready to play for the state title in basketball.  Last night they had the formidable task of facing an undefeated and heavily favored team.  After a very close game, our team was victorious.  The wonderful thing about the victory is that is was a team victory.  There was not an outstanding player and the scoring was shared by many on the team. When the game was over, parents and friends gathered near the team tunnel entrance.  Each player emerged and was greeted by applause, cheers and hugs.  Parents hugged each other.  Parents hugged their boys.  Parents hugged the other parents and the other boys on the team. As I laid in my bed last night at 1:30 in the morning trying to calm the adreneline flowing in my body, I reflected on how raising kids and teaching is like a team game.  The cliche that says, "I takes a village to raise a child," came to my mind sereral times.  Living in the same village and playing on the same team makes a difference.  My son has had a hard time with basketball this year.  Circumstances have been challenging.  People from our neighborhood, school and community have given words of encouragement; even calling him at home to offer support.  How many times do we see the kids in our neighborhoods or at different activities and fail to acknowledge them?  How many times do we ask with genuine interest the teenagers that we know how life is going?  I have made a committment to myself to do better!!  After this sport season, the compassion and love of others has made the difference to one 18 year old boy.  As parents, we can only express appreciation and try to pay it forward with other youth that may cross our path.  Each young person, no matter the age, can stand to have another positive, encouraging influence in thier life.  As a teacher, I see grandparents, administrators, parents, friends and neigbors stepping up to the challenge of taking on the role in their particular part of the village. Sadly, I also see young people who are just trying to survive. There is always that one person who seems to sense that there is need that is not filled. Unforntunately, life gets so busy, those wonderful people do not get recognition or they are not appreciated until too much time has passed and the contact with those people is lost.  I had two amazing teachers that made a life changing differece to me.  I am ashamed to say that I never took the opportunity to thank them. I hope that, as a parent, I can encourage my children to recogonize those people outside thier family circle that have shown support and love. Such love and encourgement from many different sources can move kids in the right direction.  Imagine how a whole comminity striving to uplift and support could influence the life of the young people that struggle to find their own place.  I think, once again, it is a moment. A moment to show interest, a moment to encourage, a moment to reach outside ourselves, a moment to uplift another and a moment to be an active part in the village in which we live.  Thanks for reading!