Parenting's tough

Carmen Hall, Bay News Editor. Photo/John Borren

Being a parent today has its challenges, and I commend the work the Waiapu Anglican Care Papamoa Family Services is doing through its free Building Awesome Whanau programmes.

Manager Janice Belgrave says when people become parents they are less likely to live near their whanau than perhaps their parents or grandparents did.

She says it is also a different world new parents are raising their children in with different pressures, expectations and stresses.

"We have more parents unable to earn a liveable wage or afford the basics such as housing, warm clothes and food."

The parenting courses provide the guidance, support, and knowledge about how to manage the challenges of parenting, she says. "Some parents are struggling with parenting challenges within a context of considerable hardship."

As a mother of three I understand how difficult it is to be a positive role model all of the time. I can't imagine what it must be like to have added financial burdens, so programmes like these should be encouraged and there are many agencies in the Bay addressing this.

Tauranga Budget Advisory Service manager Diane Bruin says parent support groups are important as they reduce the feeling of isolation.

It collaborates with a variety of organisations to provide support for families. In my view it can be daunting accepting help, and I take my hat off to single Te Puke dad Robert Poese who is currently working his way through the Building Awesome Whanau programme for the benefit of his daughter.