‘Family Day’ is part of week focusing on family |
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Written by PAT TODAK, Special to the Chronicle
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Friday, 05 September 2008 01:00 |
TOLEDO—Parents throughout the Diocese of Toledo are being asked to change their families’ hectic after-school routines for one day this September and spend a day eating dinner with their families. This "Family Day — A Day to Eat Dinner With Your Children" is Sept. 22.
"We’re trying to encourage families to take time out to be with each other and dialogue with each other," explains Deacon Tim Etue of Toledo Diocese Catholic Charities, who works with a committee called The Parent Community Partnership. The group is sponsoring Family Day as part of a larger Parents Week. "We want families to become reunited again," he adds.
The Parent Community Partnership is a committee of The Community Partnership. Started by retired Lucas County Juvenile Court Judge Andy Devine, the Parent Community Partnership was formed to recognize and honor the role of parents and support their efforts in raising their families. It is a coalition of a number of organizations representing the faith community, government, business, civic/volunteer organizations, social service agencies and parents.
Judge Devine says he started the Parent Community Partnership back in 1998 after serving as a juvenile court judge since 1975. He says he learned from his years on the bench how crucial parents are in children’s lives.
"When I grew up in ’20s and ’30s everyone knew how important parents were," Judge Devine recalls. He notes there weren’t a lot of experts available back then to help with children, other than parents and neighbors. Whether it was the mayor, teachers or the chief of police, everyone expected the parents would take responsibility for their children, he says.
However, Judge Devine notes that sometime during his lifetime the responsibility for children has shifted from the parents to the churches, schools and government.
The Parent Community Partnership aims to change that. One way is through the annual Parents Week, now in its eighth year.
The various faith communities in the area are being asked to begin Parents Week the weekend of Sept. 19, 20 and 21 with an activity or blessing to honor parents.
Sept. 22, Family Day, government officials in northwest Ohio have been invited to attend a breakfast at the Maumee Indoor Theatre. A panel discussion will be held on parental responsibility and the role of government. Oregon Mayor Marge Brown is hosting this event, which is sponsored by St. Luke’s Hospital.
Sept. 23, St. Vincent Mercy Children’s Hospital is holding a breakfast for the winners of an essay contest the hospital sponsored. School-age children were asked to write about why their parents are awesome.
Sept. 24, Toledo’s Success By 6 Initiative presents an award to recognize a company or organization that excels in supporting employee family concerns. Success By 6 is a partnership of the United Way of Greater Toledo and Lucas County Family and Children First Council.
Sept. 25, social service agency directors and staff have the opportunity to participate in a one-day conference titled, ìEngaging Parents and Promoting Parent Leadership.î
Sept. 26, the focus is on wellness and recreation. The National Center for Parents at the University of Toledo is hosting a symposium featuring an all-day seminar on parental issues related to cyberbullying.
Sept. 27 is all about neighborhoods and looks at how neighborhoods can support parents.
The Toledo Museum of Art’s Family Center is focusing on parents the entire month of September by encouraging children to make a family portrait. Family Center hours are Sundays 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
The YMCA/JCC Child Development Center and Afterschool Adventure will spend Parents Week appreciating parents with activities planned by the children and staff.
While this year’s parent support activities are being held in a week, the Parent Community Partnership is declaring 2009 as the year of the parent with activities planned for the entire year.
But area families can start small by just committing to eat dinner together — and talking to each other — Monday, Sept. 22.
Deacon Etue recognizes families who have not eaten dinner together in a while may need a bit of help getting the conversation started. He recommends a publication titled, "Keep Talking: Daily Conversation Starters for the Family Meal," written by Maureen Treacy Lahr and Julie Pfitzinger, mothers of school-aged children.
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"Keep Talking," published by Liguori Press is $9.95 and can be purchased at www.liguori.org or by calling 1-800-325-9521. It is also available at www.amazon.com.
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Last Updated on Friday, 07 November 2008 09:00 |
