Show 49 – The Seventh Inning Sit: A Journey of ADHD with Karen Lowry

Aired Live on Sunday, November 21, 2010 8 to 9 AM Eastern Standard Time on www.cfru.ca 93.3 FM in Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Karen Lowry, author of “The Seventh Inning Sit: A Journey of ADHD” joins us.

After her son, Jonathan was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of six, Karen Lowry observed the school system was ill-equipped to handle the special needs of children with ADHD, and their co-existing disorders. Karen Lowry says, “I began to advocate for Jon, calling meeting after meeting, wanting to ensure academic success, and a healthy self-esteem for my son.  No one could really direct me to the necessary information that was needed to truly understand and support him.” 
Despite these obstacles, Lowry’s persistence led her to find answers. Karen Lowry is a mom with 4 children and a parenting advocate with a nursing degree. You can find her book on Amazon.

Her book depicts her own journey of frustration and discovery. She shares her journey to help other parents supporting a child with ADHD in the school system.

Here’s Karen’s 10 minute video interview on the Indie Media Show: http://current.com/groups/books/92511899_karen-lowry-the-seventh-inning-sit-a-journey-of-adhd.htm

Show 41 – Resilient Family Relationships

Air Date: Sunday, September 5, 2010 8 to 9 AM Eastern || www.CFRU.ca 93.3 FM in Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Eric Bowers (www.roadtocompassion.com) offers workshops and courses, consulting, mediation, and personal sessions for: government agencies, businesses, students creating peace tables and no-fault classrooms, youth groups and youth peer supporters, individuals, couples, and groups to find more empowerment, authenticity, compassion, and connection in their lives.

He’s in Guelph, Ontario for Family Matters and for a weekend workshop Transforming Conflict and Building Thriving Relationships:
September 18th and 19th. (see www.roadtocompassion.com/events for details)

What is NVC (www.cnvc.org) and Attachment and how can these support family relationships?

What is empathy?

Eric Bowers will give us examples and practical ways to apply these skills in our own families.

Show #37 – Collaborative Family Living with Angela Harms

Aired: Sunday, August 8, 2010 || 8 to 9 AM Eastern on CFRU 93.3 FM in Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Living collaboratively with children and adults is possible. Angela Harms, a mom of 4 boys ages 6, 15, 18, and 21 years, shares her experiences and the joy of living with teens.

When we demand compliance, what’s motivating our behaviour? What does it take to live collaboratively? Is working together always possible? What do we do when we hear that dreaded word “no” when we ask for help?

Collaboration doesn’t necessarily mean we’re nice with each other all the time. Instead, as I understand it, it’s a way of valuing all of our voices and speaking up, if you will, about how each of us wants to contribute to the family. Collaboration involves tapping into our innate passions and motivations to live together. All our opinions matter.

“Where did we ever get the crazy idea that in order to make children do better, first we have to make them feel worse?”  Jane Nelson

What does collaborative living look like? Life isn’t always easy and joyful. We discuss learning from mistakes, reconciliation, and sharing our vulnerability with each other. Our openness and honesty invites openness and honesty in others. Collaboration can be as simple as sharing what’s involved in caring for the house and the people in it so that everyone is aware of what they can do to help out. It can involve difficult conversations where we share our fears and trust our kids can make informed decisions. Angela describes how much she loves and enjoys her family.

Show #36 – Raising Global Citizens

Air date: Sunday, August 1, 2010 8 to 9 AM Eastern, on 93.3 FM www.CFRU.ca in Guelph, Ontario, Canada

This show and last weeks show came about because a parent asked me to talk about “Raising Global Citizens”.
How do we support social activism in our children and in our families?
Why would we want to do that?
Is it something we teach? Show? Live?

I’ve uncovered a few prevailing themes as I explored these questions:
1. Living and leading by example seems to be the most powerful way to parent.
2. Explore ideas, feelings, and needs through dialogue. Learn together.
3. Don’t patronize children. Be willing to share what you’ve experienced. Also, be willing to be challenged and changed by the experiences and opinions of others, however young.

Global citizenship involves respect for any and all fellow human beings around the globe and stimulates a universal sympathy and empathy beyond the barriers of nationality.

Today, I share interviews with an ambassador of the British Council’s Global Changemaker program, Nishin Nathwani and a 12-year-old political activist and his Mom. I also share resources to increase global awareness in your family.

Global Changemakers: www.global-changemakers.net

Kids Without Borders: http://www.kidswithnoborders.org

Karen McKay’s Blog: http://raisingglobalcitizens.blogspot.com/

“Growing Up Global: Raising Children to be at home in the World” by Homa Tavangar. Great ideas and fun activities for exposing kids of all ages to the world beyond their borders. http://www.growingupglobal.net/

Global Citizens Network: http://www.globalcitizens.org/

Free the children: http://www.freethechildren.com/

The Working Centre in Kitchener: http://www.theworkingcentre.org/

Awesome Article with 7 tips for Raising Globally Aware Kids: http://www.more4kids.info/1185/parenting-tips-for-raising-globally-aware-kids/