Can any parent be a lagniappe parent? Sure! My boys happen to have special needs, and much of what appears on this site refers to that, but that does not mean that I think special needs parents corner the market on being special. So, strut your stuff if you go the extra mile for your little ones. I want to celebrate the moms and dads who pull long hours, wipe away tears -their own and their children's, and keep their kids going with any goal in mind.
In my other life before becoming a stay at home mom, I was a high school teacher. Let me tell you something; Not every parent is a lagniappe parent, and not every child gets the support he needs to reach his potential. I see it on the playground, too. So many parents just "check out" and don't know what their kids are doing four feet away from them, much less in school or in the neighborhood.
So, the way I see it, a lagniappe parent:
1) Raises children who are kind and don't feel entitled to treat others badly.
2) Is loving, accessible, and approachable for her kids
3) Is an advocate but considers all sides (I've stuck up for teachers- and I think it's important for kids to see their parents consider different perspectives)
4) Admits to mistakes to her children (it DELIGHTS my boys when I apologize for a mistake)
4) Is ALWAYS there but...is not a friend to his/her kids (Think about it. You can't do your job if you're worrying about being unpopular)
5) Is a role model
6) Lets the child's interests dictate some family time. I don't care about Mindcraft. At all. But I have an account.
7) Respects his/her child.
8) Pushes through fatigue, bad moods, and hectic schedules to find more ways to support her child.
9) Helps her child thrive. Whether that means helping a child further talents he already has (hats off to the parents who give up extra snooze time to get their kids to band practice, football practice, etc.), or helping a child overcome hurdles.
A lagniappe parent IS NOT;
1) A saint (I try to always be me and not a cardboard cut out of parenting. I can't aspire to say I'm "cool," since they are 9 and 11, but I'm me. That means sarcastic, laid back, a little goofy, a little too serious)
2) Infallible (I mess up a lot, which is not a bad thing because I admit to it. Perfect is boring, anyway)
3) Militant (I believe in rules and consequences- but sometimes rules need to be broken)
4) An island (I hand off some responsibility to my husband- another lagniappe parent- because he has strengths that are different than mine. Also, sometimes # 8 on the above list is not possible).
So, the notion of being a lagniappe parent is pretty inclusive in that it does not rely on your child having an IEP or a disorder diagnosis. If you rock, you rock.
In my other life before becoming a stay at home mom, I was a high school teacher. Let me tell you something; Not every parent is a lagniappe parent, and not every child gets the support he needs to reach his potential. I see it on the playground, too. So many parents just "check out" and don't know what their kids are doing four feet away from them, much less in school or in the neighborhood.
So, the way I see it, a lagniappe parent:
1) Raises children who are kind and don't feel entitled to treat others badly.
2) Is loving, accessible, and approachable for her kids
3) Is an advocate but considers all sides (I've stuck up for teachers- and I think it's important for kids to see their parents consider different perspectives)
4) Admits to mistakes to her children (it DELIGHTS my boys when I apologize for a mistake)
4) Is ALWAYS there but...is not a friend to his/her kids (Think about it. You can't do your job if you're worrying about being unpopular)
5) Is a role model
6) Lets the child's interests dictate some family time. I don't care about Mindcraft. At all. But I have an account.
7) Respects his/her child.
8) Pushes through fatigue, bad moods, and hectic schedules to find more ways to support her child.
9) Helps her child thrive. Whether that means helping a child further talents he already has (hats off to the parents who give up extra snooze time to get their kids to band practice, football practice, etc.), or helping a child overcome hurdles.
A lagniappe parent IS NOT;
1) A saint (I try to always be me and not a cardboard cut out of parenting. I can't aspire to say I'm "cool," since they are 9 and 11, but I'm me. That means sarcastic, laid back, a little goofy, a little too serious)
2) Infallible (I mess up a lot, which is not a bad thing because I admit to it. Perfect is boring, anyway)
3) Militant (I believe in rules and consequences- but sometimes rules need to be broken)
4) An island (I hand off some responsibility to my husband- another lagniappe parent- because he has strengths that are different than mine. Also, sometimes # 8 on the above list is not possible).
So, the notion of being a lagniappe parent is pretty inclusive in that it does not rely on your child having an IEP or a disorder diagnosis. If you rock, you rock.