What does it look like to be the parent of a PFO teen? Well, to tell the truth, it is a lot of work! In the past 4 years that my children have been involved in PFO, Bob and I have literally driven over 6000 miles, commuting our kids to and from Committee Meetings, Teen Retreats, Corporate Sponsor meetings, rehearsals and Arts Festival Weekend events. We have volunteered hundreds of hours at Buddy Events, poster plastering, shopping for costume pieces, gathering information about donors, taking photos, ushering, and many other behind-the-scenes duties. And we have donated a significant amount of money to PFO.
So why do we do it? One of our goals as parents has been to teach our children selflessness. We want them to be more aware of others than they are of themselves. Any parent of teens knows that is not the norm for this age group who are often characterized by their self-focus. However, we also know that it is one thing to tell a teen to think about others and another to give them an opportunity to learn this skill through living it. PFO has given our children an opportunity to learn to be selfless and that is why Bob and I, as well as Dylan, Becca and Abby, have been committed to it for 4 years. Each month at the Buddy Events, our teens have the opportunity to put aside their apprehensions and reach out to a young person who may look different physically, but who is just like them – someone who wants to laugh, have fun, be loved and accepted. Each week at Committee Meetings, our teens have the opportunity to work very hard as a member of a group to try to achieve the goals of the group as a whole. Each year our teens have grown in their ability to overcome their self-consciousness and speak eloquently to peers, acquaintances, and total strangers about something that they are passionate about.
Has it been worth it? During the past 4 years I have seen my son Dylan, who is naturally very reticent, meet with the CFO of a company and boldly describe the impact that PFO has had on his life. I have seen my daughter Rebecca, who has a handicap that makes talking on the phone a difficult challenge, call the parents of dozens of Buddies to remind them of an upcoming PFO Buddy Event. I have seen my daughter Abby, whose goal in life is to have fun, work very hard and invest countless hours as a Committee Secretary in order to make her committee a success. In each of these areas, my teens have learned to be selfless. But sweetest of all has been the opportunity to observe them interacting with their buddies – to see the smiles, the hugs, and the joy as they completely forget about themselves and focus on another person.
When I look back on these experiences, how can I help but give of myself to support PFO?
