There Are No Parents-R-Us Stores: Our Children Don’T Get to Choose Their Parents

By Benjamin E. Bailey

The book outlines Truths that will Help you to overcome situations as you learn how to recognize the True Signs Of Life! It also shares the Value of Learning to Say No with vital keys designed To promote conversation between parents and their children as it relates to life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Feb 28, 2012
• ISBN: 9781466914773

Benjamin E. Bailey

I was born on January 13, 1947, in Mount Kisco, New York, the eldest of two children. My mother and father moved north in the mid-’40s from southwest Georgia. Mom worked as a domestic until 1956 when she took a position with A&P. She worked for A&P for over thirty years. My father worked at the post office and later for a hardware store until his illness forced him to retire. Dad later went on to work for himself until he suffered a series of strokes, which eventually took his life. I was fortunate to have my parents for forty-five years. Mom passed away in 2002. As for me, I was the first African American to attend school in the town where I grew up. As a matter of fact, our family was the only African American family for many years. After graduation, I went on to college until I was drafted into the United States Army in 1968. I served five years. After I moved to Boston to continue my education, I began working as a teacher in the Boston Headstart Program. In 1974, I moved on to become an instructor in the Boston public school system in the IBM Writing to Read Program. I moved to North Carolina in 1989, working in the Greensboro public school system as a coach and reading instructor. In 1994, I moved to Sumter, South Carolina, and took a position as executive director for a nonprofit organization, which provides services and programs for “at risk” children and their families—a position which I still hold. Twenty-five-plus years have thought me a great deal as it relates to our children and the challenges they face today. In 2007, I faced a life-altering situation, which changed a number of things as it relates to life. The heart attack I suffered let me know that life is something that we should not take for granted, which is why I’ve penned this book. I want to share things with parents and children regarding life. And it is my hope that the words in this book will help mothers, fathers, children, and others to communicate and strive to work toward positive outcomes as it relates to their goals in life.

Book preview

CONTENTS

Foreward

Dedication

Prologue

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

Foreward

Ben Bailey is the kind of person you want in your life, and your children’s lives and the life of any community. I’m proud to know him as a friend and as someone who has touched so many people of all ages in such a meaningful way. Most importantly, he knows how to listen to people, he cares about everyone he comes in contact with, and he’s real. This book is filled with a lifetime of thoughtful and logical, loving and inspirational guidance. Thanks Ben.

Graham Osteen, fifth-generation writer, editor and partner in The Item and Osteen Publishing Co. Sumter, S.C.

Dedication

This Book is dedicated first and foremost to my family. My father, Smith Alexander Bailey, was a hard working, self made man whose strength was often patronized, but never fully appreciated. He was a wonderful father to my sister, Brenda, and me, and a devoted husband of over 40 plus years to my mother.

To my mom, Annie Doris Bailey, thank you for your love, your wisdom, and at times, your stubbornness, a very misunderstood trait… `but we know what’s up!’

To Brenda Hunter, aka ‘Bones’, not for your size, but for a situation on a cool, crisp fall day in the backyard when we were playing football with our friends. Brenda made a tackle and broke her collarbone. Knowing that we disobeyed the rules by having kids over when our parents were working, Brenda held out for a long time before I had to make that dreadful walk to the A&P, where mom worked, to break the news. Brenda, you are a strong woman and wonderful parent to my nephew Jared, a wonderfully bright and gifted young man. You have a passion for education and people. You are my role model and I often wish that I was as strong and focused as you. But now, don’t get the big head!

To my son, Keith… there’ve been many times I’ve looked in the mirror and realized there are so many things that I regret. I feel I’ve been missing in action as a father. My desire to achieve, and to prove I wouldn’t allow the world dictating to me how things are done, became more important than being a better father. For this son, I apologize… I was wrong. I now realize the bond between father and son is more important than any position or title one may achieve in life. I feel better now because you’ve grown to be what every father wishes for and of his son. You are hard working and a good husband to your wife, Tammy. You are respectful and loving to your mother, and someone who is admired and respected by others. But most of all, I thank you for your love and the wonderful talks we now share. I am honored when you call me Dad.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention some of the many people I’ve met over the years, both personally and professionally. My teammates in New York, Boston, Virginia, North and South Carolina, and various other places along the way; folks like Scotty, Marty and Phyllis, Joanne and Smithy, Jim and Myra, ‘Cool Hand’ Luke Henley and