By Jeanna C., KY SEAT Member

March is Parenting Awareness Month, and KY SEAT is taking this opportunity to celebrate all the amazing moms, dads, stepmoms and dads, grandparents, guardians, and caregivers who work tirelessly to raise happy and healthy children! Parenting is a challenging but incredibly rewarding journey. It takes patience, love, and a lot of strength. This month, we aim to appreciate and recognize the crucial impact parents have on shaping their children’s lives.

Parenting isn’t just about changing diapers, packing lunches, and attending school events. It’s a profound responsibility that shapes the very fabric of society. From building a strong emotional, cognitive, and social foundation through love, guidance, and nurturing, parents play a crucial role in shaping every aspect of their children’s lives. They instill values, ethics, and empathy, molding them into compassionate and responsible adults. Additionally, parental involvement in education promotes academic success. 

Why do we need a parenting awareness month?

The purpose of Parenting Awareness Month is to: 

  • Recognize the Critical Role of Parents – The first teachers of a child are their parents, and they greatly influence their development. 
  • Increase Awareness of Parenting Resources – There are plenty of resources in Kentucky to assist parents, and this month is the perfect opportunity to bring attention to them. 
  • Celebrate the Diversity of Families – We honor and support all families who are nurturing and caring for their children, recognizing that there isn’t a universal formula for parenting.

What action can we collectively take to support parents in Kentucky?

  • Provide Education and Resources – We can assist parents by sharing supportive and informative educational materials and resources with them on topics such as child development, communication, and parenting methods. 
  • Create Parenting Networks – By participating in parent networks and making connections with other parents, it creates a sense of community and offers a forum for exchanging successes, struggles, and experiences.
  • Promote Self-Care for Parents – Self-care is the first step toward effective parenting. When parents put their health first, they set an example of good health habits for their kids.

What steps can I personally take?

Celebrate Parenting Awareness Month in Kentucky by expressing gratitude to the parents in your life, learning about local resources that support families, volunteering your time or donating to a family-focused organization, advocating for policies that support parents including economic support, and sharing your parenting experiences on social media, so other parents don’t feel alone. 

Kids matter in Kentucky. And who is raising Kentucky kids? Parents! By supporting parents, we can create a brighter tomorrow for our children together. Let’s build a supportive environment where all Kentucky parents can feel empowered to raise happy, healthy, and successful children. Kentucky families – children and their parents – are worth it!

KYSEAT LogoKY SEAT, through a collaborative partnership of Kentucky Youth Advocates and the Department for Community Based Services, is a statewide council of birth parents advocating for and empowering others who have past experience with the child welfare system.

To learn more about what parents, caregivers, and youth experience throughout the child welfare system process, read this blog on Navigating the Child Welfare System for information and resources.

Photo by RDNE Stock project