The crucial role of parents

I was thumbing through a Christian hymn book and my attention was caught by an item which I found worth sharing to parents, The Parents’ Creed.

Parenthood is a gift from God and parents have a sacred responsibility of raising their children and training them in the way they should go. However, with the parents’ desire to give their children a good education and a comfortable life, they work so hard, often times neglecting their responsibilities as parents.

When my children were growing up, I was so engrossed in my work, leading my eldest daughter to tell me in a belligerent tone, “Mama, in your search for money, you may lose the things that money cannot buy.”

At the height of the drug abuse epidemic in Manila (1972-1980), I had this poster printed and distributed to parents. “Parent’s take care of your children. Give them love and attention. Keep them away from dangerous drugs.”

My daughter (now a graduate of Psychology) asked me, “For who are those posters?” “For parents”, I answered nonchalantly. Her follow-up question hit me hard, hard enough to see my psychiatrist – friend for advice. “Are you not a parent and do we not deserve the love and attention you expect other parents to give to their children?”

This shook my world as a parent and as a career woman. I have

Aurora S. Cudal-Rivera