Trade One Saturday Morning for a Happier, Successful Child

Got kids?  Or grandkids?  You just have GOT to know about an event next weekend that has the power to change your family and your children for the better.

It's called "Parent University," held at Pomperaug High School, on Saturday, April 6.  A half day of higher education for anyone with kids.

I know, I know, it's a Saturday.  You're busy.  We're ALL busy!  But, it will be extremely valuable for you to sacrifice one Saturday morning – one soccer game, one trip of multiple errands, one anything – for the payout of raising happier, healthier kids (and your selves, by the way).

Five reasons why:  
1.  You love your kids.
2.  You love your kids.
3.  You love your kids.
4.  You love your kids.
5.  Your kids don't come with instruction manuals. 

Indeed, in the spirit of those fantastic David Letterman “Top 10” lists, I offer up this “Top 5” (keepin' it brief) list of reasons you’ll want to sign up for each and every workshop that morning (but alas, you will need to choose only two!):

The Top 5 Reasons you would choose Masked vs. UnMasked, Helping your Children Empower Themselves to Have Healthy Relationships.... are:

1) You want your teen to view themselves as important.
2) You want your teen to understand the traits of a healthy relationship.
3) You want your teen to have personal integrity.
4) You value resiliency and how it is important in human development.
5) You want to talk directly with an expert vs. reading a book that can't answer back!
 
The Top 5 Reasons you would choose Parenting for your Child's Success.... are:
1) You want to learn how to build positive attributes in your child.
2) You want to validate that your parenting style is helping and not harming your child's development.
3) You want as many tools in your tool box as possible. 
4) You know your greatest influence on your child's development is now!
5) You want to talk directly with an expert vs. reading a book that can't answer back!
 
The Top 5 Reasons you would choose Uncovering You Child's Natural Gifts: A Strengths-based Approach to ADHD... are:
1) You think everyone is diagnosed with ADHD and want to know what all the talk is about.
2) You want to know what is "normal" behavior and what might be symptoms of a bigger issue.
3) You want to know what the strengths of ADHD are because your child is driving you crazy!
4) You want all the strategies and options available to you to help your child succeed.
5) You want to talk directly with an expert vs. reading a book that can't answer back!
 
The Top 5 Reasons you would choose Self Destructive Behaviors Teenagers Engage In: What to look for and how to help your teen!... are:
1) You recognize that todays teens deal with things you never had to.
2) You are the parent of a teen who doesn't want to be naive to the dangers of teenage life.
3) You are not sure if your teen's behaviors are typical "teenager angst" or a bigger issue.
4) You wonder if other parents are concerned about the same things you are.
5) You want to talk directly with an expert vs. reading a book that can't answer back!
 
The Top 5 Reasons you would choose Why Do My Child and I Battle Over Homework (And Who Will Win The War)... are:
1) You have no idea why your child becomes so frustrated with homework.
2) You know your child is capable of better work but it isn't happening in school and you don't know why.
3) Your child becomes extremely oppositional at homework time.
4) You want to minimize the conflict of "homework hell".
5) You want to talk directly with an expert vs. reading a book that can't answer back!
 
The Top 5 Reasons you would choose Happy Parent(s) = Happy Child(ren)... are:
1) You forgot about "you" once you became a parent.
2) Your identity is intimately tied to your child's social/sports calendar.
3) The concept of "self care" is foreign to you.
4) You are frazzled but don't understand why your child is.
5) You want to talk directly with an expert vs. reading a book that can't answer back!
 
The Top 5 Reasons you would choose Grandparents Raising Grandchildren... are:
1) You find yourself parenting or care giving...again!!
2) You don't understand the world in which your grandchild is living in.
3) You have no idea what resources are available to you.
4) You need support from other grandparents in your position.
5) You want to talk directly with an expert vs. reading a book that can't answer back!
 
The Top 5 Reasons you would choose Parents: You Matter. Drugs/Alcohol, Your Teen and You... are:
1) You know that there is a significant drug problem with our youth.
2) You feel that knowing about drug/alcohol use is better than hoping it won't effect your family.
3) You want to be prepared to intervene, if needed.
4) You want to be the primary educator to your child about the facts of drug/alcohol abuse.
5) You want to talk directly with an expert vs. reading a book that can't answer back!
 
But wait -- there's more!  Two workshops, a compelling keynote presentation, breakfast, lunch -- and FREE childcare at "Kid University" --- all for $10, $15 for a couple.  Whaaaat?  Yes.

Register for this amazing half-day of enlightenment and empowerment at the S.M.A.R.T. website:  www.smartinc.org.

Wow.  So much to offer in just half a day.  Look for me there; I'll be the frazzled one taking furious notes.  Oh wait, that'll be all of us!  Hope to see you, too.