Sen. Don Harmon on Early Childhood Education
Illinois State Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) shares his thoughts on having his own young children and what he hopes for all Illinois children.
Why have you been a champion for early childhood issues?
My focus on early childhood issues comes from two main places. First, I never pretend to be an expert on the science of early childhood development but I have a strong appreciation for how young children are like sponges. Having my own children [Maggie, 5; Frances, 7; and Don, 9] and watching them grow up has made me much more attentive to making sure that all children have the resources that we have had for our children. Second, I think we spend too much time trying to fix problems in Illinois that we might be able to avoid altogether if we focused more on the earliest years of children's lives. We need to make sure that kids are ready to go to kindergarten, happy, healthy, and ready to learn. If we do that, they'll be in the position to get a good job when they complete school.
What are your fondest memories from when your own children were young?
To try and pick a fondest memory of the early years with my children would be so hard. My mother used to say to us children, "You are all my favorite." I understand that now. Each one of our three children is my "favorite" in their own unique way and each relationship is different. I wish I had a catalog of memories, but I trust they will re-emerge when my wife and I are completely out of the "valley of exhaustion" you enter when your kids are born. One thing I know with certainty is their ability, even at the earliest age, to observe and digest everything that they experience even when we didn't think they noticed. Our oldest son, Don, must have been very observant because he knew that between the choice of "mama" and "dada" as his first word, the much wiser choice was "mama." [laughter]
What challenges did you face when your children were under age five?
You know, it is really, really hard to be a good parent... especially a first-time parent. I think one of the biggest challenges for us was the uncertainty about what to do with a baby. You can think about it and pray about it, but you really never know if what you are doing is right or if you are doing enough. Babies are "little people," each with different personalities and different needs. My wife and I also felt challenged because the first five years have no linear plan. Once you hit school the progression is clear. When our children were under the age of five, there were so many choices— different strategies for eating, sleeping, development and such. And whatever choice we made, there always seemed to be an alternative out there, something someone else was doing differently. But when our children reached kindergarten then I felt like there was a traditional path. There were more outside validators on what milestones our children should be reaching, and we got assistance more readily for our children's needs. A rigid schedule is not appropriate for children under the age of five but I think that all parents – those with resources and those without – could benefit from more guidance in the first five years.
What hopes and dreams do you have for your children?
I want my children them to pursue their God-given talents. I never want to live vicariously through them. This can be challenging because children naturally grow up in our shadows and we can't help but influence them. I feel like what I am doing with my life, serving the public as a legislator, is a "calling." I don't think my folks would have ever picked this for me and I certainly didn't imagine this for myself. My dad worked at the Federal Reserve Bank, as an editor, until he died—it was a stable and "traditional" career. After realized I wasn't going to make it in the Major Leagues or become a rock star [laughter] -- the sorts of things any uninformed kid wants to be -- I pursued the law and that turned into a love of politics. I honestly never expected to run for office.
And as challenging as life in politics can be, there are many rewards. My oldest son, Don, and I watched the State of the Union together. He asked wonderfully informed questions about the speech and shared with me his thoughts about our life in politics. He really understands that we had made the choice to be in politics to make a difference in people's lives and that that life is not about making money. It made me really happy hearing his thoughts. My speech-making "abilities" [laughter] have also rubbed off on my son. He is very comfortable making speeches in his class, and will speak to any group he can assemble.
What hopes and dreams do you have for all children in Illinois?
My wife and I have been so blessed with healthy children who are doing well in school and have the resources they need. It's my hope that every kid in Illinois could have the same opportunities that our children have had thus far. Families come in all different sizes and shapes but all should have enough to eat, a safe home, a good school, and all the other resources necessary to make the most of their God-given potential.