Hundreds of Edina Parents Turn Out to Learn Tips from National Expert

Raising a child presents a seemingly never-ending set of challenges. Just ask Angela Fiol of Edina.

"We're just having some difficulties with our kids, and we've come to find out some suggestions to make their lives better," she said.

Fiol is the mother of two young boys. Monday night, she joined about 300 other parents at the to learn tips on how to raise 'Socially Responsible Kids Who Do the Right Thing' from parenting expert Michele Borba, Ed.D.

The event is one of a series of educational forums sponsored by the Edina Parent Communication Network (PCN). 

"I think there is a demand for wanting to become an effective and loving parent," said Kelli von Heydekampf, president of the Edina PCN. "And we don't always know how to do that."

Members of the PCN determined that Borba—a best-selling author who makes frequent appearances on NBC's Today Show—would be capable of conveying that message. 

"This just sounded like a really great topic," said Melissa Mendez, a mother of three from Edina. "We can always use more tips as parents, and this sounds like a really important one."

When Borba took the stage, she was clear about what she wanted parents to take away from her lecture. 

"By the end of the evening, I hope every one of you walks out of here going 'that's something I want to try,'" Borba said to the audience of her parenting techniques. "There's no right or wrong, you just do what's going to work for you."

Borba spoke for nearly two hours on a variety of parenting topics, while also stopping periodically throughout the course of the evening to allow those in the audience to talk amongst each other about parenting.

A common theme throughout the night was how important it is for parents to show their children that being together as a family is a priority.

"One of the highest correlations of a child who's less likely to take drugs, be anorexic, and a kid who's less likely to be depressed and have higher grades is routine family meals," Borba said. "Fascinating. It's not the macaroni and cheese that's doing it folks."

Borba also spent a great deal of time emphasizing the need to teach children how to be more confident.

"If you want to help your child, use one rule in your home," Borba said. "Starting at age two, [teach them to] always look at the color of the talker's eyes. The reason for it is it forces the child to hold their head up."

She went on to say that encouraging children to smile and use constant eye contact teaches them to have strong body language, which will not only prevent them from being the victims of bullying, but also instills values at a young age that will help them land a good job once they get older. 

Parents in the audience listened attentively with pen and paper in hand, constantly jotting down notes with the expectation of using Borba's methods at home.

"I don't want to coddle my kids too much, but I don't want them to be spoiled," Fiol said. "I want them to know right from wrong. I want them to have lots of components to being raised as a child."

Borba provided Fiol, and the other parents in attendance, with plenty of ideas on how to be a better parent throughout the course of the evening.

"All I want you to do is to find simple ways throughout your daily existence with your kids that you can weave these in," Borba said.

Now, it's the parents' turn to put Borba's methods to practice.

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While Michele Borba's lecture cost $15 per person, the next Edina PCN forum on March 21 at the  auditorium is free. That event will feature a community discussion on racial diversity.