August 23 ~ 2024
Wm. Audie Sherrod, Author of Challenge Accepted
I was finishing the first part of my daily workout at the local YMCA when I recognized a young lady I had previously seen there with her two children. On the day I first saw her, her two children were burning energy and getting the wiggles out by running around the track, sometimes losing a shoe in the process. Today she was alone, so I said, “where are your runners, did they start school today?” “No,” she said, “I home school them—I hope I’m doing it right.”
Her comments stuck with me, and I began a mental review of the people in my life who are parents, students, teachers, trainers, leaders, and administrators. How will she know if she is “doing it right”? Even today, on my drive, I heard chatter on local radio show about what curriculum to teach or not to teach in schools. I have also seen stacks of books on bedside tables for nighttime reading on raising children. This brings to mind the many people in my life who are either public or private school teachers and/or administrators, but all are also parents. That common ground of being a parent seems to be where I hang my hat when considering her comment, “I hope I’m doing it right.”
In Challenge Accepted, I address this multiple times throughout the book. I share from my experience, multiple tips for leaders including parents. Consider this when formulating your thoughts on this subject. The first is the importance of parents, be they single or a couple, grandparents, caregivers—with a special shout out to Dads being actively involved in the lives of their children. Fair warning, I am pointed about not allowing fathers off the hook easily, and instead holding up their role as a parent and role model of enormous importance, not to be dismissed lightly—so buckle up Dad.
Being a parent, guardian, or mentor is without a doubt one of the most critical leader Challenge Accepted charges ever given to us. There can be no greater or more rewarding challenge than raising, nurturing, and caring for another human being.
- Audie Sherrod, Challenge Accepted
“Why?” If you are a parent, you have heard this several thousands of times, probably very often, coming from the back seat while trying to simultaneously listen to Siri’s driving directions, I know I have, and when you become a grandparent, its round two—a repeat of days gone by. So, what’s the answer? “Because I said so, that’s why.” I confess I have replied with that go to response plenty of times, I may have heard it from my parents a time or two as well. It does get a bit exhausting, but it’s important to hear them ask why, that’s how they learn. Highlight this because here is a solid answer worth repeating, I wrote about in Chapter 10 “Level 5 People & People of Valor” of Challenge Accepted. Sharayah, a mother of a then five-year-old boy and a two-year-old girl answered, “Because I’m teaching you to be a man of valor.” She goes on to define a man of valor and I suspect she will adjust it for a woman of valor, adding in some wisdom akin to being a Proverbs 31 woman.
The most important life lessons taught and modeled are not the primary responsibility of any teacher, coach, scout leader, or instructor, though often they do, by default, end up carrying the load. The primary line of defense and most important person to answer the why questions is an engaged parent or caregiver, raising a man or women of valor. The role of a parent or first line caregiver in the home is to protect, deflect, prepare, and propel. If all goes well, that little bird will grow strong and need to, one day, be guided out of the nest to fly on their own. They will be charged with becoming a citizen, and when they do, all the answers to why that they heard, will become abundantly clear, if you have done your job well. That is how you will know if you have done it right. Read more about leadership, communication, parenting, and raising up people of valor in Challenge Accepted.
Wm. “Audie” Sherrod is a nomadic adventurer & Author of “Challenge Accepted - What You Do Matters and Who You Are Matters Even More,” CEO at Summit 27, and a former member of the United States Senior Executive Service (SES). www.summittwentyseven.com
For more information on speaking engagements or consulting, please reach out using this link: https://www.summittwentyseven.com/contact
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