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Before You Ask “Where Are the Parents?”

September 28, 2016 by Karen Jensen, MLS   3 comments

thingsineverlearnedinlibraryschool

Where are the parents?

  1. TLT16

    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Before you start complaining, “where are the parents?”, I would like to remind you of a few things 1/?

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:32:47

  2. TLT16

    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Some parents work swing or night shift. This requires that they sleep during the day. They have no choice. 2/?

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:33:20

  3. TLT16

    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Some parents gets forced into mandatory overtime. They have no choice. 3/?

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:33:49

  4. TLT16

    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Some parents are juggling 2, 3 or more part-time jobs to barely make ends meet. They have no choice. 4/?

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:34:31

  5. TLT16

    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    We have created a business friendly environment that offers low-wage, part-time, no benefit, family busing dynamic. 5/?

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:35:30

  6. TLT16

    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    So where are the parents? Well, they are often at work. Or trying to find work. Trying to survive. 6/?

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:36:06

  7. TLT16

    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    So before you start complaining about kids today or parents today, ask yourself, what are we doing as a culture to support families? 7/?

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:36:57

  8. TLT16

    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    We don’t have livable wages for a large portion of our workforce.
    We don’t have benefits 4 a large portion.
    We don’t have work/life balance

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:38:00

  9. TLT16

    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    And no, they can’t often just go and get a better job.
    And no, they can’t often just move and get a better job.
    There are no better jobs.

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:38:43

  10. TLT16

    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Or there are no good support systems.
    Or there is no good childcare.
    Or there are no good school systems.
    So they struggle & make do.

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:39:28

  11. TLT16

    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    And you think it won’t effect you, but it does.
    It effects us all.
    Because when a part of the body is sick, the whole body is sick.

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:40:25

  12. TLT16

    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    They are bone weary tired and stressed out and even sometimes depressed and fighting anxiety. They feel shame, fear…  https://twitter.com/i/web/status/780840344648880128 …

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:43:40

  13. TLT16

    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    What are some things that public libraries can do to help families?
    Offer a variety of programs a variety of different days and times.

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:46:38

  14. TLT16

    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    If you only have Storytime on weekday mornings, that means a lot of the kids who need it most can’t come, their parents are working.

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:47:27

  15. TLT16

    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Try setting up rotating activities in the open spaces of your library as drop in activities. Puzzles, hands on STEM, etc.

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:48:12

  16. TLT16

    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    If you can find the $ and space, set up a small Maker or Craft center. Anyone can come & do hands on when it works for them.

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:48:52

  17. TLT16

    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Consider circulating maker kits & book bundles on specific themes. Again, allows people to engage and explore on their own time.

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:49:36

  18. TLT16

    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Repeat programs. If someone can’t come the first time, then maybe they can catch it on another day or at a different time.

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:50:30

  19. TLT16

    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Consider dropping fines for overdue materials. Many people don’t have reliable transportation. As long as you get the materials back, why?

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:51:29

  20. TLT16

    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Let’s just all think before we judge parents & kids. There are a lot of forces working against them.

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:53:32

  21. TLT16

    TeenLibrarianToolbox@TLT16
    Excellent point!  https://twitter.com/emkokie/status/780843511738490880 …

    Tue, Sep 27 2016 18:56:53

Filed under: Things I Never Learned in Library School

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About Karen Jensen, MLS

Karen Jensen has been a Teen Services Librarian for almost 30 years. She created TLT in 2011 and is the co-editor of The Whole Library Handbook: Teen Services with Heather Booth (ALA Editions, 2014).

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. YES! LOVE all of this. We are all working harder for less reward and it helps no one to fall into shame, blame and judgement of others. We all deserve better and we must do better. Be kind to everyone; it is a blessing to them and a blessing to you to practice compassion. Thank you so much for this entire thread and for your constant advocacy, Karen. THANK YOU!

  3. We have a huge after-school gathering in our public library, thanks to various factors: 1, we welcome the kids to programming with minimal age limits on weekdays; 2, we have a lot of kids whose parents are working strange shifts at multiple jobs to make ends meet; 3, we have many service-sector jobs that are not high-paid enough for people to consider daycare for older children. Would I rather see these kids with their families? Yes. Would I rather they hung out on the streets? Of course not. I’m glad to have them here, where I can teach them and lead by example in how to get along with others, how to learn, how to be engaged in their community, showing them that the library is a place where they are welcome. A good “article”.

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