PARENTS OR PALS?



In the rush of to-day’s living, parents are concerned about quality time with the children and youth. It is a fact that infants need continuous parental attention. As children get older, even into adult life, they need attention. With older children, too much attention can be as harmful to their mental heath as too little.

There is another dimension to parenting that is not getting the attention it requires. We’ll call it “Care Management”. Professionals use the phrase “Case Management” meaning ongoing oversight of the right combination of experiences a person needs. In our human services, “Case Management” is the big scarcity. In families, “Care Management” is often the big scarcity.

The well-being of the child comes from the total combination of his experiences - at home, school, the community, the church, the club and on his own. What he learns comes from whomever he spends “quality time” - and how much time.

This “care management”’ job of parents matches the importance of the family togetherness time. Only the parents have the responsibility of being an advocate for their children. If the child or youth is spending too much or too little time with friends, with himself, with his studies - all are the business of parents.

The “Care Management” task can now be much better done in our new world of e-mails, cell phones and e-records. Parents can forget; kids can make excuses but an e-trail is quick and sure. Some kids need little scrutiny; with other kids, it can make the whole difference to their personal and academic progress.

Parenting is the world’s toughest job to some degree because we all have to learn the hard way. Some humorist said “Have three kids and throw away the first two”. More attention to “Care Management” can make the job easier.

Let’s hear from you on “Care Management” as part of THE FAMILY CHALLENGE by clicking on the comment button found below.