(MOV Parent - Graphic Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

I am so thankful that our community provides so many good opportunities for our children to be involved with everything that is going on in the world right now.

We need to protect them from all and provide an educational and safe environment. It is up to us parents to guide them. Good parenting it is a great skill and every parent tries their best and I do know that parents can only give good advice or put them on the right path, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands and depends on how strong a person they become to avoid the struggles in life and bad influences.

It is easy to be distracted by something that sounds good and very inviting but at times it is not what we always think. There is really a place in our heart you don’t even know exists until you have a child and automatically you realise how much you love that child.

Good parenting means to be there from day one to love them, protect them from any danger and always advise them, don’t forget children are like wet cement whatever falls on them makes an impression.

I believe the best thing to give to your child is your time, you can give them everything else but if you’re not around, you will hear it from them when they become adults. If you want your child to be intelligent, read them fairy tales, children need constant care, attention, love and don’t teach your children only to read, teach them to question what they read and teach them to question everything.

We all know it is easier to build a strong child than to repair a broken adult.

Children are magical creatures. You can lock them from the things they never need to be, but you can’t lock them out of your heart. It is funny, by the time a child realizes maybe that their parents were right usually they have children of their own that they think are wrong, lol.

This week make sure you take your children to church and teach them the real meaning of Easter. Holy Week is very special in any church, I know I will devote my whole week to serve, cook, decorate and anything that needs to be done at our St. James Greek Orthodox Church in Belpre. Come and visit us, we have services every day during the day and evening. If you really want to see something different come and experience Holy and Great Friday Royal hours at 9 a.m. and we will decorate the Kouvouklion during service, Lamentation Orthros (Epitaphios) at 6 p.m. with outdoor procession. A lifetime experience for everyone.

As for now I wish you a Happy and Blessed Easter!

Till next month.