In my state of Queensland, Term 1 of the 2025 school year begins on 28th January. Here is a prayer for parents, and teachers, from an unknown author:
O Heavenly Father, make me a better parent –
Teach me to understand my children, to listen patiently to what they have to say, and answer their questions kindly.
Keep me from interrupting or contradicting.
Help me to be courteous to them, as I want them to be to me.
Forbid that I should ever laugh at their mistakes, or resort to shame or ridicule. May I never punish them out of anger or spite or to show my power.
Help me, Lord, to demonstrate by all I say and do that honesty does produce happiness.
Reduce, Lord, the meanness in me, and when I am out of sorts, help me to hold my tongue.
May I be ever mindful that my children are ‘merely children’ and that I should not expect them to have the maturity and judgement of adults.
Let me not rob them of the opportunity to do things for themselves or to make their own decisions.
Help me to grant them all reasonable requests and give me the courage to deny them the privileges that I think may be harmful.
Help me to be fair and just, O Lord, so that I will earn their love and respect, and they will want to imitate me. This is the supreme compliment.
Amen.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
How do you feel about the new school year and all the challenges that it may bring for you and your family?
If your season of life is unaffected by school, can you remember a time when it was?