Welcome to The Family Room, GeoClan's new regular column that deals with anything and everything regarding the family.  Here you can get advice on parenting, the home and everything else regarding you and your peoples.  We introduce you to Danielle Norman, a social worker and parent educator working with Frankford Group Ministry's Neighborhood Parenting Program.  You are in the house now so bring your questions, your eyes and minds and oh, don't forget to wipe your feet at the door!

Raising a child is the most challenging job in the world. However, it can also be the most rewarding.

Think about it· You are responsible for a fragile and innocent life. The guidance and support that this child receives from you and others will one day dictate their decisions, goals and perhaps even the way they parent their own children.  

Most parents will say one of two things - ãmy parents did it this way; so will I, too,ä or ãI will never do it the way my parents did.ä Regardless, the most important thing you can do as a parent is make a responsible and intentional choice to be a healthy part of your child's life.   If you are the parent (and/or guardian, aunt, uncle, etc.) of a child, you can make that decision right now.   No matter the situation: single-parent, drugs, alcohol, distance, court-involvement, if you commit yourself to creating and maintaining a meaningful relationship it will be the best decision for you and the child.   It will be the beginning of a healthy future and a healthy family.

No one is perfect and no one has all the answers but, there are many helpful tools that anyone can use to promote the healthiest environment possible for raising a child.

The first (and most important) of these tools is Nurturing.   Nurturing is the ability to nourish (to feed and cause to grow); to provide loving tender care; to educate, guide and train; to promote all of one's healthy and positive traits.  

As a parent and/or guardian you need not only to be able to provide your child with nurturing but this must become a priority for your own life as well.   An easy way to check your (or your child's) level of nurturance is to ask the following, each day:

Did we receive·

•  Basic needs (food, water, clothing, exercise)?

•  Emotional/Intimacy needs (hugs, kisses, kind words or thoughts)?

•  Intellectual needs (learning something new, reading, writing, intelligent conversation)?

•  Personal needs (alone time, achieving personal goals)?

More importantly, ask yourself ãdid something or someone directly negate one of these needs?ä    It is a warning sign to get rid of anything that is stripping you or your family of these daily requirements.

Each day to be at your best and to help your children reach their best you should try to meet each of these needs.   Give your family a head start and a fighting chance at a healthy, happy beginning!

-Danielle Norman received a master's degree in psychological services from the University of Pennsylvania and is currently a social worker and parent educator.

Danielle Norman can be reached for comments, questions or concerns at normanda@37.com.