Meet Arnesha. She is one of the first parents to enroll her child in Kennrod. At the time, her daughter, Johnnie, was 8 years old. Arnesha expressed that she recognized that Johnnie needed to see how much she valued education and how important it was for her to know that she was working alongside the school leaders and teachers to make sure she learned as much as possible. Arnesha further explained “I knew that I needed to work with Johnnie more at home, be more patient with her, and help build her self-esteem. Kennrod played a big part in this process.”
Like Arnesha, all parents play a critical role in providing the foundation and nurturing that children need in order to reach their full potential. Parenting is not easy- trust me, I know, but it is incredibly rewarding when we are able to see the fruits of our labor. The Child Development Institute explains that “a parent should remain their (child’s) best teacher throughout life. Functioning as a coach, the parent exposes a child to age appropriate challenges to encourage development as well as to experiences that allows the child to explore on their own and learn from interacting with their environment.” https://childdevelopmentinfo.com/child-development/#.WQC-FhjMz-Y
Parents, I celebrate you today! We all serve as our child’s first teacher. We are the first to expose them to touch, voice, and vocabulary. We are the first to model values, keep them safe, and guide them along life’s journey. We have a tremendous responsibility, but with the help of family, friends, teachers, and others, our children are able to grow and become the person who they are meant to become. Arnesha leveraged the support of Kennrod to join her in helping Johnnie. I, too, connected with the greater community with my children. The church, sport clubs, and other organizations supported me in meeting the needs of the whole child. Working with others has made all the difference. Teaching has boundless rewards!