Who needs parents anyway??

Three words answer that question:  Our kids do! 

Sometimes, living in my counselor "bubble," I forget about the most important influences in our students' lives:  their parents.  Our school year started July 30, so we are currently in process of completing Parent/Teacher conferences.  Most years, I am not asked to sit in on any conferences, so I use those 5+ hours for planning, doing bulletin boards, consulting with parents informally, or talking with former students. 

This time of year, I have begun to learn more about my students, and I have learned their home situation.  In some cases, I realize that the school is the structured, consistent, safe place in the kids' lives, and going home means confused or fear.  However, in other, and MOST, cases, the home is the place where students are learning how to read, write, behave, and respect others.  As a parent of a Kindergarten student (I had my first elementary school P/T conference today...tear), I can now FULLY understand the importance of my role as a Mom.  Although I have full confidence in my daughter's teacher, I must accept the fact that I (and her Dad) am her main teacher.  It has to be my job to teach her the 5 R's...reading, writing, arithmetic, respect, and responsibility. 

As the conferences continue, I must seek out to connect more with our students' #1 fun!