February 23, 2016 will be a fun night. Come out and meet other women; share your stories and trade tips and tools! 7-9 pm at Soul Sistas in Huntsville. Register at http://www.muskokafamilyworks.com/wheres-the-manual-series. Seats are filling up!
Great Women and Wisdom night!
It was a creative and inspired night. Lots of laughter, insights and nuggets of shared wisdom! I'm looking forward to session 2: "Keeping your Sanity when life gets insane!" (February 23)
Parenting...the toughest journey
Parenting is about feeling completely inept and unprepared at least half of the time. We are given these vulnerable little lives and try our best to protect, teach and nurture these little people so that they can grow to become amazing adults. This is the dream of all parents. We all try our best to make it a reality.
What happens when things go wrong? What if our little people grow to do not so amazing things? What if they end up on a wrong road? How do we help them then? Who do we blame? Ourselves? Their peers? The establishment? The world is quick to blame the parent for their child's transgressions. How can a parent be blamed when we're all just trying to do the best that we can? Parenting doesn't come with a Manual. There is no code book that unlocks the mystery.
A recent situation in my small town has had these questions weighing heavily lately. Young men, just past their teens. A theft. A vendetta. Now, serious criminal charges for some. I think about their parents. I think about the worry, the remorse and shame. Did these parents see what was coming for their sons? Were they afraid? Helpless? Why is it that the world makes us feel as though we should have the answers? That we should always know the " right way" to do it?
Too often, we struggle in the shadows. Too embarrassed to ask for help. Toovulnerable to admit that we're stuck and scared. It's time to take the struggles out of the shadows. It's time to be okay to admit that we don't always have the answers; sometimes we need help and support to figure it out.
My wish for all parents is this: ask for help when you're feeling stuck or scared. Speak with a counsellor. Call a parent coach. Attend workshops. Wrap yourself in a web of support so that you aren't travelling this journey alone. Do whatever you can to find the help that you need to keep yourself and your children on track.
Let's take the loneliness out of the season!
With the Christmas season upon us, it is so important to pause and remember that the most important gifts cannot be bought.
http://m.huffpost.com/ca/entry/8682374
All people yearn for warmth and love.
Family Works presents 'Women & Wisdom'
Women & Wisdom
discussions and answers for everyday life
MONTHLY TOPICS
MONTHLY TOPICS
January: I wish I was Superwoman but..... Breaking the Myth of Perfection
February: “keeping your sanity when life gets insane”: Self Care tips and ideas
March: “Not my circus, not my monkeys”: healthy boundaries & relationships with exes, in-laws & everything in between
April: Parenting from poop to pubescence and beyond: Sharing tips and strategies for the life long parenting journey
May: When your junk drawer has a junk drawer: Decluttering our stuff and our schedules
Talking to kids about scary topics
The recent events which have been so prevalent in our news and conversations over the past few days can create fear and anxiety for children. Children are magical thinkers. Their imaginations often elaborate on tidbits of information. Here are some tips for helping your children manage the information that may be coming their way.
Our thoughts are with the people of Paris
PUT IT IN CONTEXT:
Children may not realize that "bad people" are just a small percentage of all people. Use concrete examples to explain this concept. Ask your child to guess how many drops of water are in a rain barrel or a lake. Then explain that, in comparison, just one or two of those drops would be the "bad people". The rest of the barrel is everyone else.
FOLLOW THEIR LEAD:
Take your child's lead regarding the amount of information that they know or want. For younger children, you may want to keep them relatively unaware. Many of the concepts related to terrorism and ideological differences are difficult for young children to comprehend. For older children, find out what they have heard and then allow them to ask questions. Educate them about global geography. Help them understand a bit about the cultures and beliefs in different countries. Teach them about human rights. If you don't know the answers, take time with your child to research.
In general, education is the key to understanding. Understanding can create a feeling of security. If we can support our children to learn about issues, they can feel more empowered and less afraid.
Bittersweet Goodbyes. Chapter 2
It's been 2 months. I'd like to say that life is easier; that I've embraced this new chapter and am doing just fine. I am...kinda.
Some days are great. I get an update from daughter number 1 that's full of stories and excitement and my heart soars with pride. Even her challenges and struggles are exciting because she's living life. She's beginning to make her way and I get to be witness to the amazing woman that I helped to develop. I've even had a few "thank you's" for teaching her some of the lessons that were not so easily received when she was at home.
Some days are painful. I notice her absence in so many places. I walk down the hall and see her "not there" in the morning. I notice the empty space when we sit for family dinner. On these days I chastise myself for being mellow dramatic. I think of those close to me who have suffered true loss. I'm lucky. I haven't lost her; I'm just learning to re work life with her from a distance. It's still hard though.
I think, overall, it's getting easier. Who knows, maybe by Christmas it's going to be difficult to figure out how to fit her into this new, rearranged life. Let's see what the next few months will bring.
Pre-Marital Counselling
This type of planning makes so much sense!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/22/pre-marital-counseling_n_4784568.html
Plan your life with as much energy as you put into planning your day
Contact me to register for my upcoming winter workshops!
New Ideas in Education
What do you think? Is it time for a change in our approach to education? Here's a great overview of some new ideas for our learners.
