Friday, September 01, 2006
The end of one stage of life and the beginning of another.
As I write it is mid-August with many families away on holiday and the village fairly quiet, a time for teachers, parents and children to relax after a long term and recharge their ‘batteries’ in preparation for the challenges ahead.
The month of September is for many the end of one stage of life and the beginning of another. The very young are starting playgroup or primary school; the 11 year olds are moving on to secondary school; and the 16 and 18 year olds are dealing with the outcome of exams and many off to college or university or into their first jobs. We wish them all every success.
It is, however, very easy, particularly for a 71 year old like myself, to forget how significant, and sometimes traumatic, these changes can be; for example, for a year 6 pupil moving from being the most senior in primary school to becoming the most junior in year 7 in a secondary school, often tenfold in size; similarly, leaving home for the first time to go to college, university or work. It is, of course, not just young people but also their parents who are affected, particularly when their teenagers have all flown the nest and the house seems too quiet for comfort!
Archbishop Rowan Williams, who himself has a young family, writes movingly about the importance of letting our children enjoy their childhood and not rush to grow up too quickly as the best preparation for adulthood. An elderly wise monk put it this way ‘Try to love your children as Christ loves you then when you get it wrong they will forgive you because they know how much you love them’. And not least the Bible gives advice to our children ‘Obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honour your father and mother – which is the first commandment with a promise – that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth’ (Ephesians 6 verses 1-4).
Every success in your new school/ college/ university/ work/ home year.
Best wishes Gerry Miller Lay Reader at St. Swithun’s