December 2019 marks the end of the government’s recognition of the Filipino youth with the theme that emphasized they loved, gifted, and empowered. One of the four (4) goals of the year’s celebration is focused on the youth in the community, church, and society. It is in this aspect that the characteristics of the Filipino youth believed to have dawned in the family is challenged. To this, the teaching strategies of parents that helped mold the youth are at stake.
I do agree that the child’s first teacher is the mother. Having been assigned to various workplaces while my children were growing up, some wishes and dreams were not realized personally both as an individual and parent. To some I failed as a parent. Now that they are grown-ups, most likely events which I missed in the past are attended to. Supposedly, these events call for the participation of the youth or my own children. But sad to accept, in some cases, the young adolescents are inactive.
When convincing arguments prevail, possible attendance to family reunions was granted. It is a plea to wake them up early in order to accomplish home chores early and possibly attend mass on Sundays or complete the 9 aguinaldo masses recently. Though it had been a prompting among these children to spend less time on gadgets for more time on studies, it was a trying moment of display on decent parenting style to live on. I had entered congested classroom-like computer shops situated nearby school institutions that had consumed most of the time of the youth even until the early morning of the day. It might had helped calling the law enforcers for police visibility in those places.
Amidst all these elements that affect positivity and sanity in raising the youth, simply these are blessings in disguise. If these adversities would lead us to maturity and be more understanding of one another, let it be. We are encouraged to laugh and always SMILE – See Miracles In Life Everyday. Our strength is the acknowledgement that these youth are gifts from the Almighty and are entrusted to us. Our worries are nothing as compared to the goodness of the Creator. Having hope, peace, and love in our hearts is an antidote.
By Virginia B. Salio-an