Huntsville's Promise
Our Children Our Future
|
|
|
|
Neighborhood Boundaries Dalia Harrelson RN High School Nurse “It takes a village” Thinking back to my upbringing, these words ring so true. A child seen in an inappropriate or potentially dangerous situation faced the possibility of an adult looking into your actions very quickly. Sneaking out of your house at night could lead you face to face with an adult that would question your motives. These activities weren’t as much fun if we ran the risk of getting caught and our parents finding out. A call from school could leave you shaking in your boots. Neighborhoods were full of well meaning adults looking out for children. My father owned a small neighborhood store which could serve as a tempting environment for any child. I remember one particular instance where a neighborhood child found the candy too much to resist. A nickel item was of no consequences to my father, but he knew that this wasn’t an instance that could be ignored in the learning process of a child. He took the child aside. The next thing I know the child is sweeping the front walkway. After finishing, he called my dad over for a final inspection. After a shake of hands, he went on his merry way with candy in hand. Knowing how things were with my father and his friends, I’m sure a conversation had already occurred between the parents. Not only did the child hopefully receive a lesson in honesty and respect, but we as children observers learned the same lesson and looked at our father with newfound respect. We noted his handling of the situation by not making a big deal of it or embarrassing the child in front of his peers (us). Family, neighbors, friends, acquaintances, and even strangers were often involved in the rearing of a child. They were not afraid of becoming involved when they noted a situation with a child that needed attention. We all knew that if any word got back to our parents about any improper behavior outside our home, we had “heck” to pay when we got home. I believe that this helped us to stay on the straight and narrow. Neither parents nor children resented this interference from others because everyone was in the same boat and accepted it as a way of life. A back or front yard could quickly turn into a friendly ballgame between fathers and sons with mothers and grandparents leading the loud cheers. Front porch sitting become an art form with friends and neighbors congregating and trying to out do each other’s stories. Laughter was so contagious. Oh, how I miss those stories. We were always allowed to sit and listen and contribute our own. City and neighborhood parks became filled with family gatherings on weekends and especially on holidays. The aroma of grilling while all the other food preparations were going on left us anxious and foaming at the mouth. Teenagers tolerated (if they wanted to eat) the younger siblings in games of Tag, Simon Says, Hide and Seek, Catch, Chase, etc because they were not able to play a game of football or baseball with the older groups. Playing outside while our parents sat on the porch kept us out until nightfall and gave such a sense of peace and that all was right with the world. Adults watched children and we kept a watch on our parents as we shouted “watch me”, an expression that as an adult I often heard from my own children. In today’s world, we adults will most likely turn our heads and ignore what we see going on around us with the children in our communities. We would most certainly rescue a young child in danger, but would we intervene with a teenager getting drunk, using drugs, driving reckless, shoplifting, cussing, fighting, gang activities, or any other possible dangerous situations? Would we stop the teenage child or simply stare or shake our heads? Being afraid of being sued or being afraid to have to face the resentment or anger of a parent that might not appreciate our interference will keep us from getting involved. However, we adults should get involved in acceptable ways. Parents need more eyes on their children, and children need to know that caring adults are around them at all times. They need to know we care about their welfare and also take pride in their positive accomplishments. They don’t need to ask themselves, “What do you care, you’re not my mama or family”. This should also be a way of life for our children in today’s world. We need to continue to be positive role models to our children whether we are volunteers or paid youth sponsors. What I have found in my time as a volunteer or in paid jobs working with youth, is that they embrace adults that give of themselves. For the most part, they want to do well and beam with pride in a job well done. We do not embarrass kids (well, maybe our own during those awkward teenage years) when we show an interest. They respond positively when an adult will take time out from their lives to encourage and participate in their functions. We need to make the effort to attend as many functions as they invite us to, whether school or personal activities. As a school official I see the pride in the student’s as well as the parent’s faces when I show up at their graduation party or their Quinceanera celebration. It makes my hectic schedule or my lethargy in going so insignificant by comparison to what they have given me. I don’t think that anything compares to children looking out into an audience and seeing family, friends, and neighbors cheering them on with their presence and support. Our children need all of us. |
|
Send mail to
Webmaster@huntsvillespromise.com with
questions or comments about this web site.
|