For a child’s emotional and mental growth, it’s important that he or she have loving, supportive, and attentive parents. Even having wonderful parents, however, isn’t always enough to help a kid through all that life can throw at them –– big or small, easy or hard, expected or unexpected. Besides, parents can’t know it all, right?
So what’s a child supposed to do when faced with situations that require knowledge he or she doesn’t have? Nic’s mom is great and loves Nic to death, but she’s not much help when it comes to paintball wars or dealing with bullies around every corner. Parents can’t be physically, emotionally or mentally available 24/7; and when they aren’t, who is?
Enter — the mentor! A mentor is defined as an “experienced and trusted advisor,” which is exactly what is needed when mom and dad aren’t around or don’t meet the criteria. Sometimes we seek out mentors when faced with unknown territory to guide us to a successful and happy outcome. For a child, he or she may not even be thinking about reaching out to someone. They’re not aware they are in need of an advisor, thinking instead that they’re on their own.
The great thing about mentors (at least those who choose to mentor a child) is that they aren’t expecting payment of any kind in return. The mentor sees someone in need of their expertise and advice and steps up to meet that need. The mentor’s only reimbursement comes in the form of their pupil’s successful accomplishments or completion of a specific task at hand. This type of gratification is payment enough.
In Nic Nelson and the Diamonds of Denmark (http://bit.ly/1wypRAr), Nic is faced with many situations that are challenging. Without his dad around, Nic is already working at a disadvantage when it comes to starting a new life in a new town, having only his mom standing in his corner. And although Barb Nelson is a great mom, http://bit.ly/1Gpd2vd, she is also like many single parents, trying to keep it all together at home while also holding down a full-time job. She wants to be present for Nic, but just can’t cover all the bases all the time.
A few incidences experienced by Nic definitely warrant some form of adult intervention…an adult other than Nic’s mom. Fortunately for Nic, New Bonn has more than one mentor who takes an interest in his new life there and the struggles he faces from time to time.
As you’ll find out in our story, Nic rarely finds himself standing alone for long. And in my next blog post, I’ll introduce you to a couple of the New Bonn residents who are there to mentor Nic during some demanding predicaments.