Photo by Marlene McPherson
Lucille Palmer, an educator, gave her children some lessons that they will never forget ... and for which they thank her.

Marlene McPherson, Outlook Writer

The period of motherhood can be very daunting for some women, but for Lucille Palmer, this is a combined task where she and her offspring share experiences as life unfolds. She, therefore, describes herself as a 'blessed mother'.

In the comfort of her living room in Fairy Hill, Portland, Outlook learnt from her the measures and the principles she applied in rearing her children.

"I have never waited for my husband to correct the children. I take immediate action; in most cases when he came and I outlined what took place ..."

This mother of four said that she monitored her first child, Cheryl, and this set the pace for how the other children are groomed, because Cheryl helped to guide the rest along the path that she was instructed.

"I established a special bedtime for her, the duties that she should perform and how we would do her homework. At five and a half years old she wrote herfirst letter to Aunt Suzie to Children's Own newspaper," (published by The Gleaner).

To accomplish this, Ms. Palmer encouraged Cheryl to read signs along the way, when they made long journeys, describing for her things of nature, like the sunset and sunrise. Of course, Ms. Palmer made herself a role model for her child, with her own reading, among other things.

Prayer time was a family rallying point for the Palmers' household, but even in this atmosphere the devil can use the children as a test of faith.

"One Saturday morning as I was praying and the two boys began to fight, I continued praying and allowed them to resolve their issues. Another Saturday morning they started to fight again. This time I continued praying but held them on either side of me until I was finished. After devotion I went outside for a switch from a tree (a limb) and spanked them, reminding them that they are brothers and that they needed each other. They have not had another fight with each other."

Husband died

Changes took place in the household when her husband, Alfred Palmer, died in 1988. She had to find a way to let the four children understand the economic implications for one breadwinner.

"A family meeting was called and I took my teacher's salary cheque, placed it on the table and told them, 'this is what we have to work with, each of you should come up with a budget, so that everyone can benefit for the month'. They were at the ages 12, 15, 18 and 19 years respectively. They all made their budget and this continued until they went to university. There were times when they had to make adjustments but they never came and asked for more money. They have been very supportive and understanding."

Although she was an effective mother, she admits there have been lapses, and the children never failed to point out where she went wrong. Take Cheryl, for example.

"My daughter said to me that I did not look at her work. It occurred to me, as when I looked on the table all of the week's work was piled onit. I apologised to her and asked for her forgiveness."

And look at the letter that her son sent her from university. It frightened her for a moment. "If I don't get to say thank you let me do so now," he wrote. Then outlined what she had been to him.

It came home to her that all along he has been on the right path.

All the children are successful academically, and they have taken on responsibilities of family life. Dr. Wayne Palmer is an orthopaedic surgeon, a father of two sons, Daniel and Dian; Dr. Kay Cole, a mother of a son, David; Paul Palmer, an engineer, is now a father of Paul-André and Steven, and Cheryl Green is a junior fellowship researcher at University of the West Indies, mother of Dania and Davina.

This blessed mother, educator and community worker has extended herself to guide other youngsters, and to date all her efforts have been fruitful.