Are you a parent or a teacher? You can be both because you are already an expert!
Many parents do not naturally see themselves in the role as a ‘teacher and they could so easily be so and really help their children with their education.
“It’s not what I do. I simply do not have the knowledge to be a teacher to my children, it’s not part of my identity, and I leave all that to the teachers”.
This view that many a parent has was emphasised to me the other night when I was at a public speaking workshop. Here is what happened.
A friend of mine, Angela, stood before the assembled audience and asked them:
How many of you here tonight are a parent?
What was the answer? Well, hands shot up for about 80% of the people there.
How many of you here are a teacher?
The answer, just one lone hand went up, from a man in the back.
Another question from Angela ; Sir, and how are you a teacher?
The answer from the man in the back; “I am a teacher because I am a parent”.
Perhaps you will not be surprised to hear that I was the man in the back.
In fact as a parent you are ideally placed to help your children learn and to be their teacher. Compared to your children with all your years of experience, no matter what your educational level, you are already an expert.
Do you believe this? It’s true. It can be part of your identity; it can be part of what you are, part of who you are and part of what you do.
You can be a teacher because you are already an expert. Believe it!
