Show 48 – Families in a busy world

Sunday, November 14, 2010 8 to 9 am Eastern on www.CFRU.ca 93.3 FM in Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Jen Britton (Nurture by Nature: Postpartum Doula Services and Children’s Boutique) joins me as we discuss how to focus on what matters most when life’s busy. When she’s not at the Guelph Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings, you can find Jen at the Two Rivers Neighbourhood group.

What parent doesn’t worry, from time to time, that they should know it all and be able to do it all. If you get caught up in the rat race, feeling pressured and overwhelmed, find out how to re-orient yourself toward your inner guidance system and family relationships.

“But”, you say, “I couldn’t ask for help!” and “there’s just too much to do everyday!”

“When we begin to know ourselves in an open and self-supportive way, we take the first step in the process that encourages our children to know themselves.” Daniel J. Siegel

Breathe. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Balancing needs and managing life is something everyone strives for. Life’s a matter of trying things out to find out what works. You know the feeling when you’re in the flow. When was the last time you were there?

Hire help.

Trade or share child care or tasks with another family to take the load off.

Play.

Invite all family members to join in, get things done, while having fun.

Use your imagination and stay focused on what’s important while letting the rest go.

“When we act out of reverence, instead of fear, our motivation is stronger, our inspiration boundless.” Kim John Payne, M.Ed., Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids.

Show 42 – Adoption

Aired live on Sunday, September 19, 2010 8 to 9 AM Eastern on www.CFRU.ca 93.3 FM in Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Jenny Emerson and Luke Hill talk about both the joys and challenges of adopting children. We discuss adopting, being adopted, open adoptions, and how to initiate the adoption process.  An anonymous mom shares a story about her experiences about being adopted and giving up a child. What supports are needed to help with the transition of welcoming a new person into your family?

Jenny has been involved in the Family and Children’s Services training Pride Program for four years. She talks about adopting her own children: one as a baby and one as a three and a half year old.

Luke is a trainer and Resource Parent for Family and Children’s Services. He has one adopted child and one birth child. His family is currently on the list to adopt another child.

A mother writes: My friends in school would talk about the time when they were born, their weight etc. I always answered I don’t know. Then I had to explain that I was adopted. Some kids would say things like ” Oh. Your Mother didn’t want you so she gave you away “. Those kinds of comments are very hurtful. I thought that thought on my own. I also wondered who I looked like, where I get my height from, my eyes etc. Why didn’t my Mother love me? What did I do wrong? I found these times very difficult.

During the last month of my pregnancy, I stayed at a home for unwed mothers. Even then, things were kept secret. After I gave birth, I had the choice to see my baby or not. I was allowed to hold him and feed him. We had a very special bond. He was the first thing in my life that I was truly related to by blood. He was mine. He was my son. Two days later I left the hospital without him. I felt as if I was abandoning him. That was the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life. I was walking away from my own child. Some people consider that to be a very selfish act. I’m not sure about that. Giving a child what is best for them is an act of love. I realized in time just how much my Mother must have loved me in order to have given me up for another family to raise.

Adoption is not a bad word or a bad thing. It comes from a place of pure unselfish love. Every one involved in this process, whether giving up or bringing in a child, needs support and understanding both during and after the process in order to heal. It doesn’t matter if you are related by blood or not. A family is chosen by our hearts.

Show 31 – Simplicity Parenting with Kim John Payne

Air date: Sunday, May 30, 2010: 8 to 9 Am Eastern || CFRU 93.3 FM in Guelph, Ontario, Canada

For nearly 30 years, Kim John Payne has been a consultant, researcher, and educator for children and adults to more than 110 US Independent and Public Schools, and around the world. He has been helping children, adolescents, and families explore issues such as social difficulties with siblings and classmates, attention and behavioural issues at home and school, and a range of emotional issues such as defiance, aggression, addiction, and self-esteem. He’s a regular key-note speaker at International Conferences on Education for parents and therapists.

Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids: http://www.simplicityparenting.com/.

Kim John Payne writes:

Imagine your home…

• as a place where time more a little slower
• becoming less cluttered and more visually relaxing
• with space, and time, for childhood-and with time for one another every day
• as a place where play and exploration are allowed, and honoured
• having more ease as you begin to limit distractions and to say no to the stress of too much, too fast, too soon.
• as a sense of calm and security take hold
• becoming a place where those we love know it, by virtue of our attention, protection, and appreciation

“The most elemental and powerful reason to simplify is this: As your awareness of your children widens and deepens, so too will your love.” Kim John Payne

Shows 18 & 19: Family Relationships parts 1 & 2

Sundays, February 21st and 28th, 2010. While I’m away from CFRU, please enjoy these pre-recorded shows or listen live on 93.3 FM in the Guelph Area.

The early years with Teresa Pitman: http://cfrufamily.wordpress.com/2009/12/26/show-10-family-relationships/

The teen and later years with Julie Wise: http://cfrufamily.wordpress.com/2010/01/04/show-11-family-relationships-and-teens/

Thank you ‘stine for filling in for me while I take a 2 week vacation from radio. She does Wake Up! a Friday morning 7-9 ET show on www.cfru.ca: http://www.nothingisfinal.com/

I’ll be back on March 7th with Sharon Lewis and “Managing Meltdowns”. I’ll be enjoying this time to focus on upcoming shows, workshops, projects, and more training and practice in Restorative Circles (http://www.restorativecircles.org/)

As always, please email questions and show ideas to family(at)compassionatesolutions.ca.

Show #10-Family Relationships

Aired Sunday, December 27, 2009 || 8 to 9 am ET

Recently, I interviewed Teresa Pitman. Teresa Pitman is a mother of 4 grown children with 4 grandchildren. Her specialty is in helping parents raise healthy children and create strong family relationships in the early years. She has written 14 books about pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, development, and parenthood. She has been a regular contributor to Today’s Parent Magazine for over 20 years. She frequently appears as key note speaker at various parenting conferences around the world. Teresa is a Certified Child Birth Educator, Doula, and La Leche League Leader for 30 years. In 2007, she won a Woman of Distinction Award in Guelph. In 2008, Teresa won the National Breastfeeding Support and Education Award.

Teresa shares her thoughts about trusting our instincts, reducing anger, and receiving feedback from our kids. Her stories show how expressing our feelings of sadness and frustration help us to solve our problems.

If you’re interested in understanding development and feeling more confident as a parent, here are some upcoming workshops in Guelph.

Parenthood: Giving when the well feels dry
with Susan Dafoe-Abbey (www.Dafoe-abbey.com)
Wednesday, January 27, 2010 7-9 pm
at St. Andrew’s Church in Guelph, Ontario

Power to Parent I
with Jenny Emerson
I highly recommend this program. It will give you tools and confidence you need as a parent. Jenny is wonderful.
8 week evening series beginning
Thursday, January 28, 2010
at St. Andrew’s Church in Guelph, Ontario
Email: glennjenny@sympatico.ca

Show #9-Travelling with kids

Aired Sunday, December 20, 2009 || 8 to 9 am ET

Shannon MacKenzie-Fraser, Guelph mom of 5 kids travels across Canada and into the US each year.

We discuss tips for what to pack, how to save money, and how to make long trips fun for everyone. Set-backs and delays are inevitable. Travelling with kids IS the adventure.