WHEN Marsha-Lee Mundle and her son Liam Williams were named parish champions in the Jamaica Library Service 2026 National Reading Competition, the achievement was a proud moment for the mother-son duo.

Liam captured the six-to-eight age category, while Marsha-Lee went on to become national runner-up in the 21-and-over category. But behind the titles and accolades is a story that speaks to something far more important: the power of a strong parent-child relationship.

It is this aspect of their journey that has resonated with the National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC), as Mundle’s approach reflects many of the principles the commission continues to encourage among parents — being present, nurturing a child’s interests, building confidence, and creating meaningful opportunities for connection.

Originally from St Mary, now living in Portland for the past seven years, Mundle describes herself and Liam as a close-knit team. “For most of his life, it’s just been me and him,” she shared. Their bond grew even stronger during the COVID-19 pandemic, when school closures allowed them to spend more time learning, reading and growing together. “COVID really gave me the opportunity to invest a lot of time into him,” Mundle recalled. “We did school every day, following the timetable provided by his teachers, had snack time, story time, all of it. It gave us the opportunity to bond and for me to really invest in his learning.”

Liam Williams proudly displays his Jamaica Library Service National Reading Competition trophy alongside his mother, Marsha Lee Mundle. Their success highlights the impact of positive parenting, consistent encouragement and a shared love for reading.

That investment was intentional. As a former Student Support Pathways coach, Mundle had witnessed the consequences of weak literacy foundations and was determined to give her son a strong start.

“Working at the high school level, I interacted with students who didn’t know the letters of the alphabet. I saw the damage that a poor parenting foundation caused, and I never wanted that for Liam.”

Reading quickly became a cornerstone of their relationship. Long before the competition, Liam was already an enthusiastic reader. Mundle remembers reading to him at night and taking him to join the library before he turned six. “When I took him to the children’s library, he would just pick up books and start reading. He has always been that type of child.”

More importantly, she used reading as a tool to build confidence. “If there is one thing I wanted to foster in Liam, it is confidence,” she said. “I wanted him to always think that he can do it. Even when something is difficult, I don’t want him to turn away from the challenge. I never want him to settle for mediocrity.”

A promise fulfilled! Marsha-Lee Mundle and Liam Williams enjoy a celebratory trip to Mystic Mountain after competing in the Jamaica Library Service National Reading Competition.

As Liam’s reading abilities grew, so did his self-belief. “When he realised he could read and put sentences together on his own, it built confidence in him.”

The competition itself presented opportunities for growth. While Liam enjoyed the experience, there were moments when he became tired and wanted to focus on other interests. Rather than placing pressure on results, Mundle focused on encouraging effort. Before the competition ended, she made him a promise. “I told him that whether he won or not, I was going to take him to Mystic Mountain,” she said. “I wanted him to know that I was proud of him for trying.” True to her word, she followed through.

That commitment reflects another important aspect of Mundle’s parenting approach: being present and intentional. Whether it is reading together, talking during car rides, playing basketball, or stepping outside her own comfort zone to accommodate Liam’s adventurous spirit, she believes strong relationships are built through everyday moments. “Liam likes to explore, meet people, and go places. Sometimes, I have to shift my own personality to give him those experiences.”

For NPSC, Mundle’s story is a reminder that positive parenting does not happen through grand gestures alone. It is built through consistency, encouragement, quality time, and meaningful engagement with children. When parents actively nurture their children’s interests, keep their promises, and create opportunities for connection, they help build confidence, resilience, and lifelong trust. Looking back, Mundle believes the greatest achievement was never the trophy itself. “As parents, what we should always try to instil in our children is that they believe in themselves,” she said.