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Sunday Night
MaryHelen Swanson, editor

January, they say, is Mentoring Month. Itís amazing how they, and we donít know who they are, determine what specific cause or disease or social issue will be honored, celebrated or observed each month. None-the-less, mentoring is a good topic to carefully consider this month.
Mentor, with a capital M, is the Greek name for the friend of Odysseus, the person entrusted with the education of Odysseusí son Telmachus. And thatís just about as much as I know about Mentor.
The word mentor, thus, has come to be defined as a trusted counselor or guide, a coach or tutor.
Not all of us have been lucky enough to have come across such a person in our lives, we used to call people who influenced our lives role models. The difference comes in the fact that we may or may not have had contact with our role models. They may have merely been people we looked up to, admired or tried to emulate. And they may not have had any inclination that we were using them as the example of a person or lifestyle to imitate.
A mentor, on the other hand, usually steps into oneís life on purpose. Most likely, itís an older person who is interested in children and youths and who has something to offer in the way of leadership to help them grow, feel good about themselves and become respected citizens in our world.
Parents could be mentors. Certainly, they are and should be role models. Certainly, they should take time to help their offspring grow into happy, useful people. They should be coaching, tutoring, guiding with every fiber of their being. In my mind, the people most responsible for raising a child are the parents. I see no reason why parents cannot also be considered mentors. But, they usually arenít.
It is when someone else steps into a childís life that the title comes into play. And with everybodyís busy lives, good mentors can be hard to find. But they are there, special teachers in our schools, caring coaches, youth workers, pastors, volunteers, even business people in our communities.
Does it take a village to turn children into happy, successful people? It is important that people in any community understand the value of good examples for the growing generation, but it doesnít have to take a whole town, just a few good people who show interest in what young people are doing, who really care about their feelings, donít mind listening to their music, for a while, can connect with their fads (remember the Beatles haircut, madras shirts and polyester pants?) and open their hearts to their pain and their minds to their issues, all without being too critical.
In fact, if adults would only remember their origins, having started out as children and working through that awkward teen-age stage, they might all make better mentors and role models.
Hats off this month, and every month, to those who take time for children and youths. Iím sure you have all learned by now that the reward goes beyond seeing the boy or girl grow up successful and happy. As the saying goes, youíve probably gotten more out of it than the child.
However, we must not pass the responsibility off on others when it comes to the children. You donít need to join an organized group to be a mentor, you donít have to sign up to set an example, because as an adult, a parent, a teacher, a movie idol, a sports figure, a businessman ... everything you say and everything you do is being watched by children.

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