Karen Sudu, Gleaner Writer

GLENGOFFE, St Catherine:

ONE OF Rose Delores Reynolds' desires is to see more Jamaicans practising good parenting.

The 82-year-old, who lives in Ashley district in Glengoffe, St Catherine, believes some parents are not spending enough time instilling discipline, and teaching their children the importance of values, such as sharing, helping, and respecting others, hence the breakdown in the social fabric of the society.

"Some of these children nowadays, not even if them come and see you, not even 'howdy' them not saying, and first-time days, you have to say 'good morning' or 'good evening'. I don't understand. Parents must do a little better in making their children understand good values," Reynolds, affectionately called Miss Rose, shared with The Gleaner.

NEED TO BUILD FOUNDATION

She said instead of nurturing their children, which is critical in creating the foundation for them to become sociable and loving adults, they engage in meaningless activities.

"The way how I see people looking after them children now, sometimes night come down and they don't know where their children are. They must talk with them, love them. They must be concerned about them. Some parents dress up and walk up and down doing nothing. They don't check if they get homework and make sure they do it," she said.

Her main priority when she and husband, Leon, of more than 50 years, were raising their five children - four boys and one girl - was ensuring that they got the best care, love, and educational opportunities.

This has paid off as her eldest child, Spencer Reynolds, is the housing and infrastructure manager at Food For The Poor. Devon, their second child, is managing director at West Indies Synthetics Company, more popularly known as WYSINCO, in Spanish Town.

"She was very involved with homework, and so on, and she was extremely protective. During high school, she would wake up very early in the mornings to make sure that we had a proper, balanced breakfast," Devon reflected.

Dwight, the fourth child, recalled that she was never quick to beat, but she got the message across.

"Whenever a certain time passed and she didn't see us come home from school, you would see her out there (at the gate) looking for us. She was always concerned and tried to instil discipline. She was strict, but she didn't beat. She talked, and we knew what she meant," Dwight explained.

Even now, he said his mom has not shed her caring ways.

"Even as a big man, she would still wonder and worry about me. If she doesn't hear from me, she will call and find out if I am OK," said Dwight.

SHOP OPERATOR

With no special career goal in mind, while growing up in Cassava River in Glengoffe where she was born, Rose became a shop operator in 1951 after she and her husband relocated from Bamboo Corner, another area in the deep-rural farming community.

"At that time, you never have plenty shops. Now you have a lot more shops," she said.

Her days of serving customers have brought her many happy moments. And even as her shop is not as stocked as it was in the past, she is still thankful that over the decades, she has managed to establish herself as an outstanding business woman.

For Reynolds, bothered by pain which slows her down, "I think I'm quite happy with my life now because when I look at myself coming up the ladder, I think I am quite satisfied," she said with a gratifying smile.

Her husband is equally satisfied.

"She is a very loving wife. She takes care of me the best she can and she took care of her kids all right, and I am satisfied," said Leon.

rural@gleanerjm.com