| |
| |
|
Parenting Information |
|
|
|
Blended Families Can Be Successful
Many families today are blending members from past relationships. It would be easy to give up when faced with all the conflicting methods of parenting and discipline that come to a family who has joined forces together. As I was doing research for a recent book, I interviewed a young counselor at a youth camp. I was impressed with her sincerity, maturity, and gratitude that her "blended family" had made the effort and sacrifice to work together toward a common goal. She admitted that she was the instigator of most of the conflict and absolutely refused to cooperate on even the most menial request by her step-mother. She could tell that the adults were becoming increasingly unhappy and stressed and she was secretly glad that they were suffering. Then an interesting thing happened. She was invited to spend a weekend with a friend and she saw what happens when families get along and support one another. The family held a family meeting to decide about some upcoming projects and chores. When putting activities on the calendar, she was amazed to see her friend volunteer to attend the ball game with her little brother so the parents could make another commitment. They laughed and joked with good natured ribbing as opposed to sarcastic mean spirited teasing. The family ended the family meeting with ice cream sundaes and she saw the kids pitch in without being asked and that they served the parents before getting their own bowl. It was an eye-opener for this young lady to see that it is possible to work together in a win-win atmosphere. She honestly had not even realized it was possible to live in harmony as opposed to chaos and anger. When she got home from that stay, she called a family meeting and everyone came fearing that she was going to say she was moving out if she didn't get her way. Instead, she told them about what she had witnessed and asked for a commitment for all of them to start over and become a cooperative, supportive and loving family where everyone was treated with respect. She went on to tell me that it had not been easy to change old habits, especially with her. But, as a family they had set a goal and a commitment and had worked on their relationships and communication skills daily. As a young adult, she said that because of that commitment, she had gone into counseling to assist other young people who were filled with anger. She wanted to share the valuable lessons that she had learned. Oh yes, she counts her step-mother as one of her best friends now. In our living room is a beautiful potted plant. It contains a number of small individual stems and branches that, as separate entities, are fragile and unsteady. Each stem could probably make it if it were broken off and stuck in a glass of water, but it might not. However, grouped together, they gain strength and protection from one another. Their roots are intertwined and form a foundation that allows them to successfully withstand being knocked over and occasionally neglected. Families are like that plant. We are all in this together, and we need to know there are others who will hold us up when we need it and support us as we grow stronger. The word for the strength of a unit is synergy. It means that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. It is that common goal of cooperation and support that builds success in our children and our families. Please don't give up. Try one more time to provide the loving and respectful environment that each member of the family deserves. Good luck and God bless. You do the most important work in the world. Judy H. Wright, Parent Educator © 2005 www.ArtichokePress.com This article has been written by Judy H. Wright, a parent educator and PBS consultant. You will find a full listing of books, tele-classes, and workshops listed at www.ArtichokePress.com. You have permission to use the article providing full credit is given to author. She may be contacted at 406-549-9813 or JudyWright@ArtichokePress.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Parenting - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
The Ten Most Common Poisons Among Kids For parents, keeping our kids safe is a constant top priority. But even with the best intentions it's possible to overlook some potentially harmful household poisons. Why Creativity and Self-Expression are Important to Little Kids Can you draw a straight line? Most adults don't consider themselves artistic. Parents do, however, worry about their toddler's art abilities. Where to Look for Affordable Baby Clothes Once the newness has worn off a little, you will realize that your baby grows very fast. So fast, in fact, that he may need new clothes on the average of every two months during the first year. 6 Ways to Communicate Clearly with Your Teen How would you like to have a closer relationship with your teen again?Your ability to communicate effectively with your teen is one of the most precious skills you can develop to achieve this goal.When we think of communication, we tend to think only of the way we can express ourselves. How To Help Your Child Learn Just as every snowflake is unique, so is every child. The way that your child learns depends a number of different factors, which combined together, create his unique learning style. Mommie Moments - Taking Time For Yourself Being a parent is a role that requires a large majority of our attention and time. Whether you have one child or fourteen children, you are more than likely aware that personal time is at a minimal. Ultimate Airplane Themed Games & Activities for your Childs Birthday Party Are you looking for the Ultimate Airplane Themed Party Games and Activities? Well stop looking because they are right here.. Achieve Success At School - Parents, Help Your Kids Easily Be Top, Honor-Roll Students! With the beginning of the new school year coming VERY soon, here are some tips to give us a "heads-up" to start the year off knowing what to do.Three tips to have your kids Achieve Success At School:1. Promoting Your Childs Motor Development Assuming there are no serious motor problems present, what can you, as an involved parent, do to help promote your child's motor development? To help ensure she becomes a competent, confident mover who enjoys and therefore takes part in physical activity? The answer is: Plenty!Practice is one of the most important factors involved in achieving higher levels of skill performance. But one of the most important factors involved in practice is that it not feel like practice!It's simple, really: All you have to do is play with your child. What Are Your Children Really Watching? Saturday mornings. Cold cereal and Scooby Doo. Second Letter to My Daughter Dear Camille,As I thumb through the photographs that I carry with me always in my briefcase, it's hard to fathom that the short haired, smiling baby holding a crawfish and wiggling its claws has turned into the beautiful goldilocks girl that demands the stage and wants so much to sing.I feel like such a cliché-all those veteran parents telling us how quickly you would grow up, how it would be over before we know it, how we had best pay attention before it all ended. Celebrating Life with Children in September Here are ten simple pleasures you can enjoy with your children this month.1. Teenagers and Trouble - How Parents Can Keep their Teens Out of Trouble Teenagers are a work-in-progress, and parenting teenagers can be tricky business. Many kids get into some kind of trouble at some point, and, although this can provide them a powerful learning opportunity, taking a "kids will be kids" attitude is downright irresponsible parenting. Pipe Down! Life is funny.My twenty-year-old daughter, Melanie, has a her new summer job as a nanny for three small children. 15 Ways to Help Kids Like Themselves 1. Tell me something you like about yourself? Help your child to focus on her many strengths. Discipline on My Mind I look out of the window as I am writing this. It is home time and mums are collecting their children from the local primary school. ADHD: A Dialogue With a Non-Believer, Part Five Dear Sir, It was with some interest that I read the article What You Should Know About Attention Deficit Disorder by Edward W. after having it handed to me by a member of our church. Pick Your Fights With Your Teenager Wisely I know as a single parent or even with 2 parents, it is hard raising a teenage girl or a boy.I noticed throughout my son's teenage life, his emotions were different than mine. Parenting: 6 Observations on Fatherhood Just the other day my oldest son asked:"Daddy, am I old enough to call you Dad?"Won't be long now before he is asking for the car keys.. Raising A High Maintenance Child Do you have a high maintenance child?"Thank goodness my second child wasn't born first. I would have stopped at one child if he was my first," said a mother at a recent parenting seminar.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
