A Message from our Great Start Parent Liaison

Jeanette Lamphere

GS Parent Liaison

Oh, the joys of pregnancy.  You remember--the anticipation, the excitement, and the wonder of it all?  It is suppose to be a most ‘magical’ time, right?  Well, maybe. 

I had the great pleasure of working at the Belly to Baby Expo this past month, and in doing so met literally hundreds of parents-to-be, many who were expecting for the first time.  Amidst all the fanfare, I gazed in the eyes of countless soon-to-be moms and dads who were in need of reassurance and support, and I realized how easy it is to forget—to forget about all of those inner doubts and fears that come during the transition into parenthood.  Even for veteran parents, the adjustment to a new ‘bundle of joy’ or, maybe ‘multiple bundles,’ can be a rocky road.

To this end, I was really proud of our community.  As I looked around the Events Center, I saw booth after booth filled with professionals dedicated to offering programs, services, and supports for Jackson families.  It truly does take a village to successfully raise a child, and I witnessed first-hand that we, as a community, are embracing this profound truth. 

That being said, are we perfect in our approach?  No way.  Are there flaws in the system?  Absolutely!  This is where parents enter into the equation.  Professionals can only do so much.  I am a firm believer that it is parent involvement that will make the difference in our success.  Parent voices are crucial to the evolution of successful community systems, and seasoned parent voices are equally as vital in the lives of other parents.  For this reason, I feel so very passionate about the opportunities afforded to the dads and moms who choose to be a part of the Great Start Parent Coalition.  Everyday parents have the opportunity to bring their valuable voice to the table, along with other early childhood professionals, and mold and shape the services offered to Jackson families.  Parents also have the opportunity to build friendships and support their peers through our network—parents helping parents be the best parents they can be.  To think, all of this good can be achieved at no financial cost; simply through the investment of a conversation.  Amazing!

Would you like to be a part of something outside of your day to day routine?  Would you like to build into a legacy of support for parents and families?   Great Start Jackson needs your voice.  Join us; a village of those who believe in early childhood.

Jeanette Lamphere is a Jackson mother of two and leads the efforts of the Great Start Parent Coalition to grow and develop parent leaders throughout the community.