A Willingness to Nurture

"For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break..but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate." --44th President Barack Obama, January 20, 2009

What an amazing and exciting week this was!

I hope that many parents, grandparents, teachers, and others who care for our youngest children were able to witness the inauguration and the ushering in of an era of hope and change.

When I attended the Zero to Three conference here in Los Angeles in December, there was a lot of conjecture about President-Elect Obama's true commitment to young children and families. And, there was a lot of discussion about our feelings of hope that his administration could help to increase awareness and resources spent on this critical period of a child's life.

After all, the first three years are when the bulk of brain development happens; it is the time when children make the fastest and most dramatic gains.

As I listened to President Obama's speech on Wednesday morning, I of course honed in on the small part of it directed at parents.

Parents, teachers, daycare providers, you are key to implementing the positive changes that we seek as a nation. You are the ones who instill in our littlest ones the belief that they are loved and valued. That they can become an Ironman, Superman, or the President of the United States.

This is a task that each one of us can help with, even if we don't have our own kids. As we move through the world, we can be the adults who model good behavior, who do what is right even if it is hard. We can be grownups who are willing to listen to others' opinions and show kindness to people who are different from ourselves.

Let us move forward with hope in our hearts and as our new President puts it, the willingness to nurture our children.