I joined BB in 2003. After seven years of experience, I find that I am old enough in the Brigade cycle to put in two cents about "evolutions" of a parent's role in the Boys' Brigade.
I mustn't say parents' involvement with the Brigade has changed tremendously because I came in to learn about them gradually as I was given bigger responsibilities with the growth of my rank. Yet, I find that there's a trend in every generation of Boys and how their parents are concerned with the function of the Brigade.
At 13, I saw parents as the caretakers. They send their Boys to the Youth Center week in week out, help their kids to purchase uniform parts, drive them to functions (events) venues when necessary, etc. I have also seen parents who came every week to send a container of soup to their Boys, making sure that they are well fed for the Saturdays.
At 15, as a young NCO, I found that parents are supporters. I remember how most of the parents come to almost every company level activities, i.e. Awards Day, Enrolment Service, Pesta Review, and so on, to cheer for our Boys. Their presence were the pillars of every Boy's spirit and motivation to move on.
At 17, as a Sergeant of the company, I saw parents as the complaint-makers. Due to my position, I have very frequent contact with Boys' parents. Especially when something big is going to take place, like camps and outings, or competitions, I have always received countless phone calls from parents asking why their sons have to participate, and "why the tough trainings?" I remember how I can only keep silent when a few parents asked why the drill team only got second place in the state level competition.
At 19, I was placed to the Junior Section and I saw parents from another point of view - the providers. I saw how many parents make sure that their sons have the sufficient materials to come to BB meetings, i.e. lunch boxes, shirts to change for games, water tumblers, stationaries, etc. May be it is the position I held that I don't see parents as a separate party in the Brigade anymore.
Looking from an Officer's viewpoint, I find that parents' involvement in the company is very much as important as an NCO's. I believe many Boys have been through a period of "restrictions" from their parents to attend BB meetings, mostly during the exam seasons.
My mum always says, it is the Boy's decision to whether or not attend BB parades because nothing is impossible to achieve; if they have a willing heart to do so, they can achieve good results even without skipping any BB meetings. This is also the reason why I never missed a single meeting until my SPM months. I know that whether or not I skip BB meetings, my results would still be the same. In fact, I want to thank BB for "tieing" me to some regular sports since I don't do much of exercises when I prepare for SPM.
I believe a parent's support and motivation is vital for their Boys to attend the weekly BB meetings and special programs. Many times, I find that it was the parents' uninterested-ness in some BB activities that Boys were not able to join. This is why I've always supported the ideas that Parents should be one of the targeted customers when we sell BB.
Still, it is how much a Boy can convince his parents about the benefits of BB, be it by their academic results, or able to make friends, learn another language, acquire living skills and be independent. As a parent, if I see my Boys benefiting from an organization that doesn't require a very high yearly subscription, why not let my Boy join and learn together with a group of peers in a church ground?
The main reason I am writing this entry is because I receive a bunch of negative feedbacks from parents about the camps and trainings their Boys have to undergo to prepare for the coming Pesta. I want to quote my mum again in this matter: "If you don't plan to win in those competitions, why go Pesta? Go for your practices now!" I hope parents too understand that we Officers see the Boys as precious as they themselves do. So, parents don't have to worry too much placing their sons here with us.
Be they caretakers, supporters, complaint-makers or providers, parents' roles in the Brigade must not be overlooked.
May be someday, I might suggest the Brigade to spell Parents with a capital "P"!
