There is nothing better than watching children grow and experience life through innocent eyes. Every parent says their children are their life....because invariably it is true! I have two children, a boy and girl, who are both aged less than 7.
My son was born deaf but gradually it became clear that this was not to be permanent. In the early years I spent many hours with him in speech therapy and his early deafness has had knock on effects for years; ultimately he now has perfect hearing, although the earlier problems have led to him being kept back for a year at school. At five he was diagnosed as having dyslexia and dyspraxia; another challenge but one that he is more than up to. It has allowed his mother, Sally, and I to understand the issues that surround these often misunderstood general terms; there are varying levels of every diagnosis and different ways of dealing with them.
On a positive note, most parents give their children every opportunity in life and so my wife and I have too. I recently took them to learn to ski, as I noticed in many countries children as young as 2 or 3 are already on skis. My daughter marvelled at the weather and both children played delightfully in the snow..... and they learnt how to ski! It also brings extra delight when I see my son on skis with such enthusiasm and a boundless energy which more than compensates for all those set backs in the early years. My daughter, although younger, has a wisdom beyond her years and already 'mothers' her brother, always prepared to make a sacrifice for his happiness.
In politics it is often key issues like Education, Education and Education that grab the headlines. The reality is that education is not just about what a child can read in a book or be told in a lesson. For a fully rounded adult you need a fully rounded education and, in this context, education also means experience of life and the importance of stability and security.
No school with any amount of money can provide what is really required for my children to grow up as balanced, intuitive, adventurous and balanced all rounders. However, neither can parents provide everything that a child requires and this is where the balance of education really comes in. I feel privileged to be able to watch my children grow and I only hope that I can provide what the school is unable to; is that not what every parent wants?
