Rose Rock gives parenting tips

Pee Dee parents got an earful from parent of 10, Rose Rock, mother of comedian Chris Rock, during a parents’ retreat held Friday at Hannah-Pamplico Elementary/Middle School.

It was a lecture many parents, who are accustomed to lecturing their own children, would not soon forget as Rock talked about family values, respect and education.

Rock attended the retreat, a project of Prevent Child Abuse Pee Dee, in honor of Child Abuse Awareness Month. Rock said strong families are the cornerstone of the U.S., but within the past few decades, many haven’t been living according to the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.”

Educators have a responsibility to teach and respect children as well as aid them in becoming outstanding adults, she said. But, Rock said, children must respect educators and other adults.

“When I was going to school, teachers were next to God, now teachers are suing school boards because the students are attacking them,” she said.

We live in a world that lacks discipline, and any child who can’t seemed to sit down is labeled as having a disorder, Rock said.

“What happened to bad kids? There used to be these little bad kids that just needed a swift kick in the pants or a pinch when nobody could see,” she said. “Now, we line them up at the nurses office and pump them full of Ritalin.”

She also shared thoughts and excerpts from her book of “Mama Rock’s Rules: Ten Rules for Raising a Houseful of Successful Children.”

Rock said she reared seven biological children and three given children, or “those who came to visit and never went home.” She also raised 17 foster children.

A proper education — one that includes lessons on a child’s culture and history — begins in the home, she said.

“If you are not going to tell them who they are, then shut up,” Rock said. “If you are not a part of the problem, then be a part of the solution.”

During the talk, Rock shared many examples from her own parenting and often mentioned her own children.

“Sometimes when they see people that are in the media or on TV or whatever, they always think of us as being somewhat different,” Rock said after the retreat. “I like to let them know that being a good parent is important to everybody and we’re just ordinary people.”

If there was one lesson attendees should have taken away, it’s learning to embrace their family, she said.

“Just get back to the core values of raising a family,” she said. “Yeah, just take it back.”

The retreat continues today at 9 a.m. at the school with a speech from Richard Pringle, a regionally recognized assistant principal.

There also will be 30 workshops covering various topics for parents.