“Even if they do listen to me, they still don’t want to do what I ask them to do!”
“Our relationship is fine. I take care of him. Now, I expect him to take some responsibility around the house without me asking!”
Part 1: Shannon MacKenzie-Fraser, mom to 5 kids (aged 14 yrs to toddler) joins me in the studio to explore how to gain rapport and dialogue with our kids.
Part 2: Jenny Emerson is a mom of 2 kids and has fostered 22 kids in the past 3 years. Jenny facilitates a program called ”Power to Parent”. You can find out more about Power to Parent, an 8 week series from January to February 2010 (Guelph, Ontario) by contacting Jenny directly: glennjenny@sympatico.ca.
Part 2 will examine discipline that doesn’t divide us and what parents can do to keep rapport so kids will (more likely) listen and contribute to the family.
On October 19th, I received a letter from Parkwood Gardens Neighbourhood Group stating that Family and Children’s Services (F&CS) will no longer be funding Preventative Support Work in the Community. Losing this support affects our most vulnerable members of our community as well as those families often referred to as “the working poor”. One to one support, clothing closets, food cupboards, holiday hampers, the backpack drive, the income tax assistance program, the annual summer BBQ, Fall and Winter events, and the community clean up in the Spring will all be affected.
Just this week, I learned that the City of Guelph is considering removing service options, including Grant Funding for the Neighbourhood Support Coalition, as a way to reduce budget spending.
This is a link to the proposed city budget. List A is called
the Department Reduction Proposals for Consideration (page 2-1). List B is called Other Considerations (page 2-16). The Neighbourhood Group funding reduction is not recommended, but open for consideration, on page 2-16 on line OTH 12 -D. http://guelph.ca/uploads/Finance/Budgets/2010_Proposed_Operating_Summary.pdf
These kind people agreed to share their stories and opinions. This is going to be a great show!
Alix Aitkin is the Community Development Worker at Parkwood Garden’s Neighbourhood Group.
Shannon Hann is a single mother. She’s been involved with Parkwood Garden’s Neighbourhood Group since her daughter was a baby.
Roberta Vriesma isa mom of 2 kids who grew up in Bogra, Bangladesh where her father worked. Her experience of being surrounded by extreme poverty and wealth has helped her to appreciate the wealth we have here. She is involved with the Neighbourhood Support Coalition which is a network of neighbourhood and community organizations committed to building and sustaining neighbourhood groups.
Daniel Moore is the current Executive Director of Family and Children’s Services (F&CS).
Jan Fischer is a member of the Social Supports Committee.
Alicia Brame isa Community Development Worker with West Willow Woods Neighbourhood Group.
Francis is a mom of 11 year old twins who’s been a volunteer with Parkwood Gardens since her kids were toddlers.
Sunday, November 22, 2009 || 8 to 9 o’clock Eastern on www.CFRU.ca
Dads, Nigel and Luke, join me live in the studio to talk about why they choose to homeschool their kids.
More men would take parental leave if workplaces and culture supported that lifestyle. It’s a decision that involves the whole family. These men are active, outgoing, and attentive fathers. These guys adapt to the unique challenges faced by men who choose to homeschool their kids.
Many families have been hit hard this year by job lay-offs and cut backs. There are lots of people still paying off university loans or living off one income while raising a family. With the holidays fast approaching, many families are feeling concerned about keeping family traditions meaningful and affordable. These days many more families choose to live cheaply as a lifestyle for the sake of simplicity and minimizing our ecological footprints on our planet. Today we talk about holiday budgets, what’s important about gift giving and family traditions, and sharing great gift ideas that anyone can begin to make today.
Charlene Downey is a mom of 3 active boys here in Guelph. Many years ago, Charlene was dubbed the Guelph Maven. Wikipedia defines a maven as a trusted expert in a particular field, who seeks to pass knowledge on to others. The word maven comes from the Hebrew, via Yiddish, and means one who understands, based on an accumulation of knowledge. I definitely see her as a go-to person, a hub if you will, when you want to find stuff for yourself and your kids. Even if she doesn’t know, she probably knows someone who does or she knows where to look. She has a new website www.funkymaven.com.
Roberta Vriesema is a busy Guelph mom of 2 kids. She was born in Bogra, Bangladesh and spent most of her younger years there. Her father was the Bangladesh Director for the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC). Now, her parents live in Cambodia serving the same Committee. Since her teen years, she’s lived in Ontario, and has worked hard to put herself through University and contribute to her family’s wellbeing. Roberta grew up surrounded by extreme poverty and wealth. B’desh had no real middle class when she first went overseas but there is some evidence of a middle class developing. She says that her life experience has really helped her to appreciate the wealth we have here. She often mentors people to live and eat more simply.
We have a panel of guests who are joining us both live in the studio and on the phone Sunday, November 8th, 2009 from 8 to 9 am ET.
Monique McCardle is a mom to 6 kids and is a trained doula with Doulas of North America (aka DONA) since 2006. Labour, birth, and breastfeeding have been her passions since expecting her first daughter in 1996. After the birth of her son she was convinced her second calling was to become a doula (her first of course being a wife and mother!). Contact: www.guelphdoula.com and 519.994.0701
Nicole Barrette is a mom to 2 busy boys and is also a trained doula through Childbirth International. Nicole is interested in all things related to water births, doula care, belly casting, and breastfeeding. Contact: www.babysfirstbreath.ca
Casey Berard is a mom to 2 kids, one of whom was a premie baby. She is an acupuncturist and does spiritual body work. She is also trained in prenatal yoga. She has attended 4 births. I’ve asked Casey to share how to have a satisfying hospital birth and breastfeeding after a premie baby.
References:
See your Family Doctor
Contact an Obstetrician or the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Health Unit.
Midwives in Guelph: Family Midwifery Care of Guelph and Guelph Midwives
Guelph author Teresa Pitman and her co-author Joyce Barrett, M.D. share the best evidence about pregancy, prenatal care, birth, and the early days with a new baby. This is an easy-to-read reference book for parents: “Pregnancy and Birth: A guide to making decisions that are right for you and your baby” 2nd revised edition, 2007 (ISBN-13: 978-1-55263-791-3 and ISBN-10: 1-55263-791-3)
