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WBS hoping for a Game 7 hero

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Lauretta Phillips celebrates 104th birthday!

<p>Over the past two years, I have converted my younger daughter into a country music fan. Since I drive her to school every day, this wasn&#8217;t hard to do because we follow this very simple rule: my car, my radio station! She is now a much bigger fan than I am.</p><p>About a month ago, she really got excited and couldn&#8217;t wait to share with me a song that she had just heard for the first time. She was sure I would like it. As soon as she started playing it, I laughed out loud and completely shocked her as I sang along, knowing almost all the words. The song she believed was new: Kenny Rogers&#8217; &#8220;The Gambler.&#8221; She didn&#8217;t realize this country classic was a number-one hit back when I was her age, some 35 years ago!</p><p>In the song, the experienced gambler says he has made a lifetime out of reading people&#8217;s faces and he could see it in their eyes when they are out of aces. In most card games, not having aces, of course, is not good.</p><p>Unfortunately, for many children, especially those growing up in poverty, having too many &#8220;ACEs&#8221; is far worse than being dealt a bad hand in a card game. ACEs, known as adverse childhood experiences, are traumatic episodes and stress factors that impact brain development and can affect physical and mental health for a lifetime. ACEs include exposure to physical or sexual abuse, neglect, household dysfunction related to poverty, substance abuse, domestic violence, divorce of parents, incarceration of a parent, and chronic physical or mental illness.</p><p>Emerging science indicates that the prolonged and toxic stress created by these experiences changes and reshapes the brain&#8217;s architecture. These changes in the brain will impact a person&#8217;s understanding of the difference between right and wrong, as well as impact decision-making, behavior, and short- and long-term memory.</p><p>Unlike card games, the more ACEs you have, the more challenging life will be. Over the course of a lifetime, the outcomes that result from exposure to ACEs, especially if a child experiences four or more, can include developmental delays, behavioral problems, cognitive impairment, poor academic and job performance, physical and mental health problems, and even a decrease in life expectancy.</p><p>ACEs will not only affect the child&#8217;s life, but research shows they can impact three generations. The personal, social and economic costs associated with ACEs are very significant.</p><p>At the heart of many such issues are parenting, family life and the choices we make. In loving our children, we must do all we can to prevent adverse childhood experiences.</p><p>A young child cannot grow and thrive if abuse, neglect, violence, drug use and other criminal activity are in the home. Whether parents are married or not, both have an obligation to protect their children and keep them safe and healthy. These are hard to do if either parent is absent, incarcerated, abusive, not addressing an addiction or simply not making their children the most important priority in their lives.</p><p>The single most important factor for children in breaking cycles of trauma and poverty is a nurturing, supportive relationship with an adult who cares. Through the United Way network and other community resources, help and support are available. For information and assistance, please call 2-1-1.</p><p>As Kenny Rogers sang about playing cards and reflected on finding &#8220;an ace we can keep,&#8221; I think we all ought to consider the first line of &#8220;The Gambler&#8217;s&#8221; classic refrain, &#8220;You&#8217;ve got to know when to hold &#8217;em &#8230;&#8221; and apply those familiar lyrics to our children.</p><p>Kids are young only for a while. You can debate which radio station to listen to, but don&#8217;t gamble with their futures. Hold &#8217;em for as long as you can!</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>Bill Jones</p><p>Guest columnist</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Bill Jones is president and CEO of United Way of Wyoming Valley. He can be reached at 570-829-6711 ext. 1230.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Bill Jones: Stack the deck in favor of your children’s welfare