(ThyBlackMan.com) Parenting is a blessing, but it is also a continual job. There are loads of different advised offered from every direction. The needs of are ongoing, and ever changing. It is very important to prioritize their needs so that we know for certain they have what is necessary to be successful in every area of their life. There is so much going on in the world, and every time we turn on the news something is happening to children. We can’t protect them from everything in the world, but it is important to give them everything that we can so that they can have a better chance of navigating through life. Prioritizing the needs of our children, and creating an environment that is safe, loving and structured requires plenty from the parents. The expectations, and standards that need to be set for our children should not start in the community nor at school. That is foundation should be apart of the priorities the parents have set in place.
Too many of us grew up hearing the phrase “do as I say not as I do”. Some of us had to navigate our way through bad examples, decent instructions, and a world that was quite unforgiving. Ask yourself if that is the confusion a child deserves? As parents we must take a 
look at our live and take the time to set ourselves in order for the sake of our children. It is a positive thing when your child sees you taking the time to read and enrich yourself. When they see you are constantly growing it sets the standard for them to follow suit.
When your child is made to respect time that you set aside for self-care, they learn the world does not revolve around them while seeing that caring for oneself is not selfish…its as important as eating or bathing. Parents that allow their children to see them value good health, and nutrition while encouraging them to partake raise kids that better understand the value of their health. Setting priorities as to how we function as adults is the first step in our children doing the same.
There are children that are born with athletic abilities that are undeniable, and they are very smart. However, it is up to the parents to put both of those things into perspective. There is a reason student comes before athlete in the title student-athlete. They order should not start at school. It should begin with an understanding that building the mind is just as important, if not more, than just building one’s body. Parents invest a lot of money and time into extra-curricular activities…especially sports. However, far too often the same investment, which costs less, is not made in academics until there is a problem.
It is important to instill a desire to grow and learn into our children. This should begin at home. There will be times when we, as parents, must unplug and tend to the education of our children. Just as they have exercises, they may practice at home for sports…there are workbooks they can use to enrich them academically. With so much material available to get out children ahead academically there is no reason we should allow them to fall behind. They need to know we are as invested in their scholastic growth as we are in their athletic growth.
Priorities is one of the keys to parenting. Yes, we might not be able to attend everything or take every phone call. However, if it is going to better our children at some point that has to be okay. We know society for our kids can be an uphill battle, but a part of loving them is preparing them in as many areas as we can to life a healthy prosperous life. We want them to have the boldness, and discipline, to explore their creativity and capabilities. It is time we stop solely trusting schools to prepare our children or expecting out children to set their own structure and priorities when we have not taught them such. Successful children are not born that way. Someone had to take the time, and patience, to pour into the children in many areas. This is in part whey they have parents.
Staff Writer; Christian Starr
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