Diary of a Millennial Mama

I came across this really powerful talk by a youth advocate about how EVERY KID IS ONE CARING ADULT AWAY FROM BEING A SUCCESS STORY and I wanted to share my thoughts about it.

“Every child who winds up doing well has had at least one stable and committed relationship with a supportive adult.”

– Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child, 2015

In March 2015, Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child released a study saying, “Every child who winds up doing well has had at least one stable and committed relationship with a supportive adult.” In other words, it really only takes the belief and encouragement of ONE supportive adult in order for a child to thrive, and if you try and think about your childhood, wouldn’t you say that this was true?

This youth advocate, Josh Shipp, begins his talk by saying that statistically speaking, he should be in jail by now or worse, dead, if it hadn’t been for that one grown up who refused to give up on him. At 14, he had been in and out of foster homes that it had become a game to him. He had become so used to jumping from one home to another that he would try to guess how long it took before his foster parents kicked him out.

Eventually, he had gotten so used to it that he would intentionally act out and cause trouble for his foster family just so he can be kicked out. That was until he was taken in by Rodney and his family. Rodney never called Josh out for his behavior. Whenever Josh acted out, Rodney would just let him and would listen to him patiently. Until finally he got into some serious trouble and was detained.

Rodney, of course, goes to bail him out without question but when they got home, he sat Josh down for some one-on-one talk. Rodney assured Josh that he will always be there for him but will only be able to help him he helps himself. That was when he started to get his act together. And look at him now.

So to all parents/guardians, grandparents, teachers, uncles/aunties and basically anyone who has some influence over a child’s life, be that one adult in your kids’ lives. Be intentional and consistent in investing your time with them and let them know that you see their potential. Be genuinely interested in the things that they do. And remember that the time you spend being present with your kids will never go to waste – regardless of whether they become “successful” in the traditional sense of the word, or not.