Reclaiming Your Roots & Wings?

Our heritage – physical and non-physical – is an important part of who we are and what we identify with, as individuals and communities. Our cultural identity relies on the memories of the past.  If we our youth today were given the opportunity to know more about our ancestors, the place they belonged to, and their cultural affinities it will have provided them a stronger sense of identity.  

As an Educator, understanding the importance of your roots & wings will help our youth in establishing a stronger identity, which will improve one’s self-esteem, self-confidence, and their ability to value their self-worth.  This opportunity will equip them to relate and respect their surroundings when they know more about their roots. Embracing our unique identities can be an eye-opener in more ways than one. We all have an increased self-worth that plays an essential role in deciding our overall health and well-being.

The Importance of Roots & Wings

Parents should provide their children with roots and wings. Our roots tell us that we are a part of something bigger than over selves.  There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other wings. (Hodding Carter) Good parents give their children roots and wings: roots to know where home is, and wings to fly off and practice what has been taught them.

Our roots tell us that we are a part of something bigger than ourselves. When we give our child wings, we allow them to be who they are, to be independent and to grow. We give them an opportunity to succeed, to fail if necessary, and to learn from their own experiences.

Parenting roots require patience and faith as their results are sometimes slow in coming –though they always arrive. It is important to understand that all productive trees take time to grow and develop as all children need love, patience, and time to become healthy and mature. If we fertilize, water, and nourish the roots of our children daily and allow them to grow freely as organic beings…. we give them the “WILL” to win and half of the battle is already won. 

Parenting roots are the foundational teachings which eventually bear life-sustaining fruit in the lives of children. Just as roots of a tree serve to anchor the tree in place, the parenting roots and fundamental teachings of (guidance, self-esteem, attitude, behavior, discipline, empathy, compassion, morality, etc.) that parents instill in their children which will serve to anchor them in place; thus providing them with a firm foundation upon which will serve to anchor them in place and provide them with a firm foundation to build their lives.