EDITORIAL: Help parents

When one considers the role of a parent, the foremost responsibilities that come to mind are providing food, clothing and shelter – the necessities for every human being. Yet, being a parent calls for more than this, it requires one to instil discipline, social responsibility, and teach manners, decorum, respect and several other character-building traits. And with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its effect of the education system worldwide, parents are being called upon to play an even bigger role in their children’s traditional education with the advent of online schooling and the closure of public and private schools across the island. In all these respects, especially the latter, too many parents in today’s society are being challenged like never before and some are falling short.

 

It is true that parents have a lot on their plates to deal with each day, especially now with the additional stress of safeguarding their health and that of their loved ones from the pandemic. Added to this is the recent downturn in Barbados’ economy and the resulting financial constraints by many businesses which have been forced to close either due to contact-tracing efforts, or even the inability to make ends meet; all of which impact parents, some of whom have been laid off or become unemployed as a result. Also of consequence is the fact that many people are now being asked to do remote work from home, where the concentration, efficiency and professionalism required to do the job may be absent considering the relaxed and unsuitable environmental working conditions that are some people’s living abode.

When all is said and done, regardless of the challenges – pandemic-related, employer/employee relationship, crises in marriages, or even personal emotional traumas – which can affect a person’s focus and impact the quality of parenting provided, parents must still realise that their responsibilities to their children are of utmost importance and cannot be put on the backburner. There are no off days, no vacation time – good parenting is a constant, never-ending job. Therefore, parents need to stay focused and provide the guidance and support that their offspring require, even if it means watching a few Youtube videos on parenting or early childhood education.

 

This perspective has been endorsed by several groups in society over the years. And one group recently added its name to the list in helping families at this time, particularly with regard to online learning. Shawn Clarke, CEO of Supreme Counselling for Personal Development, has highlighted that organisation’s efforts in this regard. He stated that in addition to helping to provide devices for students who are without, and addressing the issue of those without electricity – which admittedly were the majority of calls received – Supreme Counselling has been doing its part to maintain contact with schools enrolled in its school-based programme and to assist parents and students collectively who may need interventions, including counselling services for youth.

 

“We have also been doing a lot of virtual sessions with PTAs (parent-teacher associations),” he stated, indicating that a recent one dealt with adapting to the new normal and how parents can prepare themselves and prepare their children for the online learning. It was further noted that the group’s psychologists have started virtual sessions for those who need face-to-face counselling but are still mindful of social distancing protocols.

 

While this is commendable, more groups and PTAs need to be more vocal and visible in their efforts to assist parents at this time in treading these unchartered waters. It must be acknowledged that COVID has in essence required parents to hold down two jobs and increase their overall workload and stress limit. And before the change takes its toll, consideration must be given by all who can have a positive impact into how parents can be assisted at this time. Remember, parenting is the most important job in the world, as surely as family is the foundation of society.

Barbados Advocate

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