Posted by Madame Wicks –
A few years ago, I was visiting with a friend’s mom and while discussing conflicts in the world today, she made a comment that has stuck with me ever since. “If I had to do it over, I wouldn’t want to raise kids in today’s world.” I was surprised to hear such a remark from this mother of four successful adults whose lives have been enriched by their strong Catholic faith. Being newly married at the time with intentions of having children, her comment made me wonder if I would be selfish to bring a child into a time of such conflict. This memory has been in the forefront of my mind most recently due to the ongoing acts of violence and terrorism around the world. Since welcoming my first child in April, I am especially heartbroken by these horrific events. How am I ever supposed to feel confident traveling with my family if we are not safe either at home or abroad? How can I not worry about his future in a world that seems so far removed from traditional values of loving thy neighbor and respecting differences?
While I may be unable to protect him from all the evil in the world, I can surround him with an environment that promotes these potentially long-forgotten values. I want him to learn the morals that make families strong, teach people to embrace differences, and open lines of communication that may prevent resorting to conflict. He should be encouraged to meet his full potential and learn the importance of a strong work ethic in a place where he is loved and supported by both peers and adults. We, as parents, can control very little in this uncertain world, but what I am able to do is raise my child in the best community and educational environment I can find. There is no better place than All Saints Catholic Academy that will help instill in him the values that my family and I hold dear. At the tender age of four months, he has already been welcomed with open arms. Knowing the community I am sending him into in four years, my worries are greatly diminished. Sure, the world at large might remain dangerous and uncertain, but I know despite all that, he will be in the best hands at All Saints Catholic Academy. While I am sad to see him go off to daycare as I return to school, I will be comforted by the knowledge that I am providing an enriching environment for him to enter into in a few years. We are blessed to have such a great school family to help him grow and I look forward to the day when he can share the joy of this community with me every day.
