Parenting
- A Trust (Amana)
What kind of future do we want to leave behind for our children and what kind of world should they inherit? The answer to these questions lies in 'good parenting' as well as our determination to work for the good of humanity. Effective parenting means passing on values, ethos and a sense of responsibility to the children. The family as an institution where fathers and mothers create a happy and joyful atmosphere conducive to learning is central to parenting. This needs creative thinking, strategic planning, full commitment and the utmost sacrifice. As leaders, mentors and teachers of children parents are responsible for their children's futures.
Parenting is more than parenthood. It is the conscious endeavour to look after the physical, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing of children. It is a journey that starts from the moment a baby is conceived in the mother's womb through his/her birth until adulthood. It is rewarding and adventurous and it is concurrent with the human purpose on earth. Considering children as both a 'test' and a 'trust' (Amana), people of faith consider parenting as the gateway to success in this life and the life to come. Parenting does not end at the time a child crosses puberty or becomes sixteen. Each life has only one chance and no sensible parent can afford to gamble on this. The reward of positive parenting is enormous and eternal. On the other hand, poor parenting can bring devastating consequences for family, society and nation. For minority communities in the West, it can be a recipe for disaster.
'Amana Parenting' considers family as the centre of nurturing human beings and the cradle for human civilisation. It believes parents should play a generational task of sustaining stable societies and the family should reclaim its role as nursery, school and university to produce community and civilisation. It deals with social ills holistically and assertively. It endeavours to work with interested parents, both mothers and fathers, and intends to create a parenting movement because that is the crying need of our time. We draw our inspiration from the inherent goodness in human nature as well as from hope and optimism.
What kind of future do we want to leave behind for our children and what kind of world should they inherit? The answer to these questions lies in 'good parenting' as well as our determination to work for the good of humanity. Effective parenting means passing on values, ethos and a sense of responsibility to the children. The family as an institution where fathers and mothers create a happy and joyful atmosphere conducive to learning is central to parenting. This needs creative thinking, strategic planning, full commitment and the utmost sacrifice. As leaders, mentors and teachers of children parents are responsible for their children's futures.
Parenting is more than parenthood. It is the conscious endeavour to look after the physical, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing of children. It is a journey that starts from the moment a baby is conceived in the mother's womb through his/her birth until adulthood. It is rewarding and adventurous and it is concurrent with the human purpose on earth. Considering children as both a 'test' and a 'trust' (Amana), people of faith consider parenting as the gateway to success in this life and the life to come. Parenting does not end at the time a child crosses puberty or becomes sixteen. Each life has only one chance and no sensible parent can afford to gamble on this. The reward of positive parenting is enormous and eternal. On the other hand, poor parenting can bring devastating consequences for family, society and nation. For minority communities in the West, it can be a recipe for disaster.
'Amana Parenting' considers family as the centre of nurturing human beings and the cradle for human civilisation. It believes parents should play a generational task of sustaining stable societies and the family should reclaim its role as nursery, school and university to produce community and civilisation. It deals with social ills holistically and assertively. It endeavours to work with interested parents, both mothers and fathers, and intends to create a parenting movement because that is the crying need of our time. We draw our inspiration from the inherent goodness in human nature as well as from hope and optimism.
