EVERY generation of
parents faces its own
challenges.

In many parts of the
world, families are faced
with the simple act of sur-
vival, providing the food and
health care r to allow
ul
the first few years of life.

In Canada, we face chal-
lenges unlike any generation
before us and in many w
unlike any other countries in
the world.

Attached in ably to

cost of living and a dropping
dollar that makes even a
decent income d

live on, and dealing with the
huge technological changes
that have taken over our
homes, schools and work-
places, we are reeling with
changes whose outcomes are
unclear, and which threaten
the security of our employ-
ment.

On the surface of our
standard of living we are
blessed, but below the sur-
face, we have a creeping
apprehension about the
future, ours and our chil-
dren's.

In the context of such
worries, the issue of taking
time to really think about
our familics often takes a
back seat to the day-to-day
process of making the pieces
of our busy lives fit together.

Family statistics may be a
reflection of these chal-
lenges. Divorce rates are
high, with the attendant
financial crises of single-par-
ent families, most fa ailies
require dual-incomes just to
keep afloat; the length of
the work week is ncreasing
and time with family is
decreasing; concern about
youth crime is rising, and
particularly violent crime;
stress-related illnesses, par-
ticularly in women, are sky-

Ki¢

rocketing in numbers and
severity; educational con-
cerns have become more
extreme, due in part to edu-
cational tinkering, but pe
haps even more, “due to
fatigue and lack of family
time, for all of the reasons
above, to support and get
involved in the schooling

AslI ‘began to talk to
families about the idea of
teaching parenting courses, I
was met with considerable

enthusiasm: “There's a lot of

parents who would like
some help.”

Yet, as [ investigated the
marketplace, I found that

which provide parenting
courses and which struggle
to find participation in

cumstances was not lost. In
essence, parents feel a need
to get together and develop
some support for their role,
bur don’t have the time,
given all of the other pres-
sures, to fulfil thc d.

I bape this colur: > will
serve to bring small doses of
parenting ideas and sugg
tions to the doorsteps of
busy families. My goal is to
encourage both parents (are
you dads listening?) to put
their families as a high prioi-
ity and to take positive steps
to give their children the
skills, attitudes and knowl-
edge ne ¥ to open up
future opportunities.

As well, | hope to
encourage parents to not

north shore news

AEPARENTAL GU

only take strong and positive
leadership in their own fami-
lies, bur to also extend their
support to those around
them who may be struggling
at cimes.

In doing so, perhaps we
can encourage an entire
community view of raising
families. The way I see it,
the more parents who enjoy
and are successful in their
parenting role, the more
good kids that will be raised
to contribute in a posi
way to the entire communi-
ty. Next week, Pl be taking
a look ar the role parents
can play from a different
angle, something that is
probably more familiar to us
than the unknown territory
of being a parent.

— Graham Hookey is the
author of Parenting Is A
Team Sport antl teaches par-
enting courses. (209-8784 or

Mhookev@dowco.com)

Puppetcare

RYAN Smith (left) and pal Cole Thurston party it up during Novaco Daycare Centre's 25th anniversary celeb
tion. The non-profit organization offers childcare for children age 18 months to 12 years.

Thin wsélety’

Wednesday, August 5, 1998 - Nosth Shore News — 25

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