Showing Up Matters More Than Showing Off
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
– African Proverb
We often think building community means doing big things — organizing school events, leading committees, volunteering every chance we get.
But sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do as parents isn’t to do more — it’s simply to be there.
Because showing up — even quietly, even inconsistently — matters more than most of us realize.
Somewhere along the way, “being involved” became a performance.
Bake sale photos, classroom group chats, parent committees — it’s easy to feel like you’re falling short if you’re not everywhere at once.
But real partnership between home and school doesn’t require grand gestures. It grows from genuine presence — a quick hello at pickup, a short thank-you email, showing interest in what your child is learning.
It’s those small, consistent touchpoints that remind teachers, “We’re in this together.”
Children notice who shows up — but not in the way adults sometimes think. They don’t measure our love by how many events we attend or how perfectly packed their lunches are.
They notice when we listen.
When we ask about their day — and actually pause to hear the answer. When we sit beside them during homework instead of hovering. When we remember the name of their classmate or teacher.
Those little acts of presence tell them: You matter enough for me to slow down. And that sense of mattering — of being worth someone’s attention — is the foundation of belonging.
Let’s be honest: showing up isn’t always easy.
Between work schedules, fatigue, and the emotional load of everyday life, presence can feel like another demand. But maybe we can redefine what “showing up” looks like.
How Showing Up Looks for some:
1. Show up with what you have
If you can’t be at every event, send a note of encouragement or gratitude.
2. Show up in spirit.
Ask your child about what happened, what they loved, or what was hard that day.
3. Show up for the long game.
Some seasons will allow more involvement, others less — and that’s okay. What matters is your willingness to stay connected, even when life gets messy.
When parents show up — even in small ways — kids feel safer. When teachers see parents engaged, they feel supported. And when both sides stay connected, communities grow stronger roots.
That’s how the “village” becomes real — not through perfect systems or endless meetings, but through imperfect people choosing to show up, again and again, because the children watching are learning what commitment looks like.
Because in the end, it’s not about being the most involved parent. It’s about being the one who keeps showing up — in the ways that matter most.
Do you want us to bring us directly to your school or organization ?
From leadership teams to full faculty, we offer customized workshops that equip educators to integrate SEL and Educational Neuroscience seamlessly into everyday teaching.
💡 Let’s partner to build stronger, more connected school communities—together.
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
