Bridges and Pathways
The ETCSD Family Connections Newsletter, Feb 2020
Supporting Child Well-Being through Positive Parenting Strategies
While we had many great takeaways for how we can look at situations and needs differently at school, Dr. Greene also spoke to parents in the evening about what it means to "raise human beings," the topic of his most recent book. On his website, drrossgreene.com, he provides the following excerpt from his book:
Let’s begin by thinking about the most crucial task of your child’s development: he needs to figure out who he is—his skills, preferences, beliefs, values, personality traits, goals, and direction—get comfortable with it, and then pursue and live a life that is congruent with it. As a parent, you have a similar task: you, too, need to figure out who your child is, get comfortable with it, and then help him live a life that is congruent with it. Of course, you also want to have influence. You want your kid to benefit from your experience, wisdom, and values and effectively handle the academic, social, and behavioral expectations of the Real World.
That balance—between having influence and helping your child live a life that is congruent with who he is—is hard to achieve. Most conflict between parents and kids occurs when that balance is out of whack. The most common complaint I hear from kids about their parents is, “They don’t listen to me.” The most common complaint I hear from parents about their kids is, “He won’t talk to me.” The collaborative, non-punitive, non-adversarial approach to parenting described in this book will help you maintain the balance and keep the lines of communication open.
But, as suggested by the title, this book has a dual agenda. Yes, you definitely want things to go well in your relationship with your child, and you want your child to be able to handle the demands and expectations of The Real World. But you also want to parent in ways that foster qualities on the more positive side of human nature. We humans are capable of both altruistic and ignoble actions. Our instincts can lead us to acts of remarkable compassion and cooperation but also to lamentable insensitivity, conflict, and destruction. We have the capacity for characteristics such as empathy, honesty, collaboration, cooperation, appreciating how one’s actions are affecting others, perspective taking, and resolving disagreements in ways that do not cause conflict. Those are characteristics that the Real World is going to demand. But they need to be cultivated and encouraged. If we don’t use ’em, we lose ’em. The approach to parenting described in this book will help you accomplish that mission as well.
Like many parents, you may find it hard to maintain perspective on the kind of parent you want to be when you’re caught up in the minutiae of everyday living. It’s easy to lose sight of the big picture when every day you’re faced with your child’s hygiene, homework, chores, sports, activities, appointments, friends, car pools, SATs, and college applications. But maintaining your perspective is worth the effort, not only for your relationship with him but because the challenges that face our species and our world are going to demand his and your best instincts and actions. We need to raise our game, starting with how we raise our kids.
If you are interested in learning more about Dr. Greene's philosophies and approaches or any other positive parenting strategies, we invite you to attend our district's next "Coffee with the Counselors" on Thursday February 20 at 7:45am which is framed around this topic. Should you wish to participate in a book group based on Dr. Greene's book, please reach out to us and we can work on facilitating that.
Additionally, please see below for opportunities to connect with other parents for support, as well as learning opportunities as there are several times that Love and Logic for Parents will be offered in the weeks ahead from full training to a shorter introduction.
We appreciate you sharing your children with us!
Kate Harder
Parenting and Teaching with Love and Logic
Parents United welcomes Gena Santharam and Jody Calarco from the Richmond School District for two evenings filled with information regarding Love and Logic approaches.
Love and Logic is a philosophy of raising and teaching children which allows adults to be happier, empowered, and more skilled in their interactions with children. Love and Logic offers adults an alternative way to communicate with children. The Love and Logic techniques produe results because the techniques are simple, practical and easy to learn. The concepts behind Love and Logic place a heavy emphasis on respect and dignity for children and at the same time allow parents to grasp simple approaches instead of learing difficult counseling procedures.
Register here for the free February 25th event!
Register here for the free March 18th event!
Tuesday, Feb 25, 2020, 06:00 PM
The Ingleside Hotel, Golf Road, Pewaukee, WI, USA
Adolescent Drug Trends, Getting past No, and Parental Support
Parents United welcomes Jason Relle, LCPC, Mary Egan, MAM, CADC, and Jami Ditto, MS, CADC from the Rosecrance Health Network to discuss implications and resources regarding adolescent drug trends.
Talking to a teenager about substance abuse and/or treatment can be a huge challenge for even the most involved, well-meaning parent or adult. Rosecrance presenters will cover how to talk with your teen, trends in behavioral and drug treatment, the recover process and the importance of family support.
Rosecrance is a prive, non-profit organization offering comprehensive, nationally accredited, evidence-based addiction and metnal health treatment for teens and adults in WI, IL and IA. They have a long history of leadership in substance abuse and mental health care.
Register here for this free event!
Tuesday, Mar 10, 2020, 09:00 AM
The Ingleside Hotel, Golf Road, Pewaukee, WI, USA
Parent Support Group
Angie is a community resident of Mukwonago and would like to take this opportunity to connect local families together to network, gain resources within the community and serve as a local source of support for families in the area.
This parent support group will take place the second Monday of every month from 6:30-8:30pm. If you can't make it this month, keep it in mind for future months.
Monday, Mar 9, 2020, 06:30 PM
Brooklife Church, South Rochester Street, Mukwonago, WI, USA
Parenting with Love and Logic
Supported Decision Making: An Alternative to Guardianship
Seeing through the Smoke
In East Troy, we will be hosting learning sessions for students at various times throughout the day on March 12th. That evening, we invite parents to attend a presentation at the Middle School to learn more and better understand how to recognize signs that your child might be vaping as well as the health impacts that vaping can have.
Additionally, the Mukwonago Area School District is hosting an event at Brooklife Church on Tuesday February 25th in partnership with the YourChoice2Live agency to teach parents more about vaping, common devices and why you should be concerned. Pre-registration is requested by not required. Learn more at the eventbrite page.
If your child is in the 5th grade on up, we hope you can attend one or both of these events on this important topic regarding a growing trend.
Contact Us!
Email: harkat@easttroy.k12.wi.us
Website: http://www.easttroy.k12.wi.us/district/specialeducation.cfm
Phone: 262.642.6710 1275
Special thanks to Matt Katzenberger for the use of his photo on the background of this newsletter.