Sometimes we can't, but it should be our priority to spend quality time with our children and to be involved in everything they do, especially during the high school years. I always share this scenario with parents about when children are in elementary school parents would spend every moment they could to support them, be at their plays, and go to their school conferences. As they grow from elementary students to middle school students, parents start to disconnect somewhat, letting them journey on their own. As their children enter high school, some parents completely disconnect from them believing that it is time for them to become more independent. As an educator and now as a parent, I realize that high school is possibly the most important time that your child needs you.
Major decisions start to play an important role in high school.
I read a book that stated a child will spend approximately 15,000 hours in an educational system from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Being a student is your child's occupation, learning is their role, education is their career, and school is their organization. As a parent, being a part of your student's educational career is what will directly make them successful. To summarize what was said by Ann Lynch, National PTA president from 1989 - 1991, no matter where you live, in a rural or urban, inner city or suburban, parents that are involved with their child's education will enable them to be more successful. One of our biggest challenges as parents is to insure that we are involved in every aspect of our student's academic life.