In for the long haul…
I spent a great day with the Family Advocates of the Head Start of Greater Dallas. HSGD has always been a great partner with Strong Fathers-Strong Families and helped us get a great start when we were in the first years of our business. What struck me today as we went through our training today is how many of these folks have been with HSGD and in my trainings in the past. Social work of any kind is not easy. Working with families in chaos and struggle can be draining but many of these folks have endured those days to return to help kids and families another day.
I know that many of the great folks with whom I get to associate have been at this a long time. I personally have been in education now for twenty years. It is amazing how many people can so much good work for so long. I am not talking about me but many of my colleagues. The good work gets done by young inexperienced folks who are gung-ho about changing the world but some of those bright stars burn out. However, the good work that gets done every day is by people who have learned that the world and its inhabitants do not change in a day. It takes a lot of effort to keep the world from spinning out of control and many folks do their part on the globe every day. For their efforts I am grateful. I am also in awe and try to learn something from them every opportunity that I get. I am an “expert” at getting fathers involved in educational environments but as much as some that expertise comes from putting in miles and hours, much of it has come at the feet at folks who are experts in their own spots. Their expertise has come at the same price and at the same pace-slow and steady.
As we near the beginning of another school year, please remember those folks that have been showing up every year to begin another year of toil and struggle for the good of kids, their families, our communities, and in the end, for our world at large. Most of these folks could have done something that was easier, less stressful, and MUCH more lucrative. But they have shown up everyday, looked at the challenges before them, and have gone out and worked very hard to find better answers to the questions that are being thrown at them. The best of these folks have remained hopeful, they have shunned cynicism, and believe that their efforts and the efforts of others have an impact on the life of people around them. Regardless of what you do in this world there is much to be learned from the people that jump into the muddy, messy trenches everyday and do their best to pull people out of the battle even while some folks either deny that the bullets are flying or they express their love of flying bullets at their own peril. It has been my pleasure to work with so many great folks and I always learn so much from them when they are in MY training. My expertise is always better, my experience is stronger, and the world I live in is a better place because of their efforts with young children and families. Just think, by working with yougn children in tough settings, they may be raising a child to become a firefighter, policeman, or teacher that will make the world a better place for your own children or grandchildren.
I am glad they have my back.
