Media – Elevating the Consciousness of Parenting Well – Part 1

photo credit: Chase N.Ken Griffey, Jr. signed with the Seattle Mariners this week. After several weeks of his fans waiting, hoping, and praying, he made the decision to play for the Mariners again, his first major league baseball team. Today he held his first press conference after his signing.

Over and over again during the press conference Griffey talked about how he came to make his decision and his consideration of the impact his decision would have on his family.

Griffey talked about his own childhood and the fact that his own father was gone playing baseball, too. He said that he remembered what that was like. He shared that he remembered how hard it was for him when he was growing up because his father was away much of the time. He stated that if he returned to Seattle that he was essentially deciding to be away from home and his children for 7 months. He asked the press to think about how hard that would be to do.

Griffey gave us all a glimpse into how his family works – how his family makes decisions. He told the world that he asked his children for their opinion. He took into account his children’s school and sports schedules. He also shared with the world how his children influenced his decision making. His daughter’s opinion, at first tentative, evolved into support for her dad to return to Seattle. With her approval he knew that things would be okay if he signed with the team where he began his career.

Griffey’s parenting considerations played a major role in how he wanted to work and play.

Our society needs all parents to want to parent well and then to take the steps to do so. The relationships with all of our children are at stake.