Maxed Out Parents

Renee Ordway of the Bangor Daily News has an interesting piece on drug issues and parental interest in the topic. The columnist happens to be a freshman parent who went to a drug awareness program at her child’s school.

Surprising Turnout?
Ordway got an education into one of the key issues facing schools today. Though ten panelists had been secured for the program, a grand total of 17 parents showed up. The writer noted that the turnout was “pretty bleak and actually a little embarrassing.”

Ordway is not shy about her disappointment, casting a few stones at both the school and the parents. In noting her frustration she offers why parents should be more concerned. She notes the “fastest-growing number of addicts seeking treatment is between the ages of 18 and 24″ and “that means that teens are starting to use at younger ages.”

Actually a Fairly Typical Turnout
But having first-hand experience in this arena, I can attest to the fact that the turnout is consistent with what most schools see today. With both parents working or worse yet, many one parent households raising children, parents are exceptionally busy, so busy in fact that finding quality family time is a struggle (perhaps the basis for the beginning of drug issues in many cases).

As Ordway learned, all too often when schools hold any kind of seminar, whether it be drug awareness or assessment test results, the turnout tends to be very small. Though it is easy to be critical, the truth is that parents have real trouble meeting their everyday commitments.

Ask any parent as to why they did not attend and you would likely hear one of two responses, “I wanted to, but I already had a commitment that night,” or “It was the only night this month that I had a chance to spend some time at home.”

Miss Ordway found out what most school administrators already know quite well, working parents are simply maxed out. In this day and age, simply trying to get everyone together to eat dinner as a family is a big challenge for most parents.