Honoring Mothers and Families (505) 232-2772 

Becoming The Parent You Want To Be

This Parenting Series is designed to help parents reflect on their choices, define their values as parents and encourage connection and respect in relationships with children. Parents learn practical skills to communicate and act with awareness.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR TWO TO FIVE YEAR OLD
Thursday, January 8, 6-8pm
This session covers an introduction to child development.  Learn about parenting to your child’s temperament, dealing with a range of emotions and strengthening your connection with your child. During this age, parents are challenged to define their authority and discipline style. We will discuss a balanced approach to setting limits with respect and love.

UNCONDITIONAL PARENTING
Thursdays, February 12 and 19, 6-8pm
This two session workshop explores the material presented in a book by Alfie Kohn. We will explore the use of rewards and punishments as a parenting style. Kohn contends that common parenting practices focus too much on controlling children’s behavior and not enough on nurturing a loving relationship. We look at our long term goals for our children and come up with parenting strategies that support our children’s growth into responsible, caring people.  This workshop is designed for parents of children of all ages.
* This is a 2-session class

HELPING CHILDREN DEAL WITH EMOTIONS
Thursday, March 12, 6-8pm
This workshop helps parents understand the variety of emotions that children experience. Parents will learn practical, effective ways to help children deal with their emotions; anger, sadness, frustration and fear. These emotions can be overwhelming and confusing for both parents and children although it is a normal part of development. Parents will learn how to help children move through these emotions and feel supported and cared for by parents. This workshop is designed for parents of children of all ages.

ENGAGING COOPERATION
Thursday, April 9, 6-8pm
This workshop will look at some common parenting practices for accomplishing tasks with children.  Many parents find it challenging to direct children at certain times of day or evening and get frustrated when children don’t do what they’ve been asked.  We’ll look at new ways to use positive communication and guidance to help children willingly engage their cooperation and help parents have a plan for working together.  This workshop is designed for parents of children of all ages.

ENCOURAGING AUTONOMY
Thursday, May 14, 6-8pm
One job of parents is to shift a child’s dependence on them to becoming self reliant, autonomous individuals.  This process takes patience and time.  Parents will learn ways of assessing children’s capabilities at different developmental stages.  This workshop will focus on giving children skills to make decisions and begin to take care of themselves.   Parents will learn how to best support this process and be available for children when they need help.  This workshop is designed for parents of children of all ages.

ALTERNATIVES TO PUNISHMENT
Thursday, June 11, 6-8pm
Parents will look at a balanced approach to discipline and learn alternative ways to positively communicate our expectations. We look at how punishment breeds resentment and other forms of consequences teach respect and self control. Parents explore their own values as the authority and set goals to become more effective.  This workshop is designed for parents of children of all ages.

MEDITATION FOR PARENTING
Thursday, July 9, 6-8pm
This workshop looks at basic meditation principles and overlays them into our work as parents. In this workshop we’ll review meditation and see how we can appropriately incorporate these skills into our daily interactions with children. Meditation practice encourages parents to be in full awareness when considering our response to a variety of situations. This can be especially helpful for parents who are busy, distracted and multi tasking when dealing with our children.  This workshop is designed for parents of children of all ages.

PRAISE AND SELF ESTEEM
Thursday, August 13, 6-8pm
Many child development specialists are exploring the backlash of evaluative praise and its effects on a child’s self esteem. In this workshop we’ll explore the root of positive self esteem in children and the use of descriptive praise to support it. Many parents consider a positive self esteem an important goal of parenting. We’ll explore some ways to help children see themselves as valuable from the inside out.  This workshop is designed for parents of children of all ages.

LABELS AND ROLES
Thursday, Sept 10, 6-8pm
It is so easy, as parent, to use labels and roles to describe our children’s personalities, especially when comparing with siblings or other children. In this workshop we’ll learn how labeling our children affects their self image and creates competition and expectations. We’ll present skills to describe our children respectfully, while creating room for them to outgrow negative labels.  This workshop is designed for parents of children of all ages.

RAISING CAIN: THE EMOTIONAL LIFE OF BOYS
Thursdays, October 8 and 15, 6-8pm
In this two part workshop we will explore the social and emotional challenges that boys encounter in family life and school. And, we ask ourselves, “How can we help boys cultivate emotional awareness and empathy?” – giving them the vital connections and support they need to navigate the social pressures of youth. Using clips of the PBS documentary, authors Dan Kindlon and Michael Thompson, two of the country’s leading psychologists, share what they have learned working with boys and their families.
* This is a 2-session class

YOUR CHILD’S MOST POWERFUL LEARNING TOOL
Thursday, November 19, 6-8pm *NEW DATE from previously published materials!*
There are many definitions of intelligence.  Children learn in a variety of ways.  Often it is not the traditional way of classroom instruction.  When your child struggles at school, this workshop will be a tool in helping them discover ways that they learn effectively.  We will work with the Multiple Intelligence Theory developed by Harvard University professor, Dr. Howard Gardner.  Be a positive guide in building  your child’s confidence as a successful learner.  This workshop is designed to assist students of all ages.

AN APPOINTMENT WITH NATURE
Thursday, December 10, 6-8pm
Based on the PBS documentary, “Where Do The Children Play?”  this workshop may remind parents of their childhood play and how it compares with the present day play of their children.  The film raises issues of the positive and negative aspects of technology and the media,  over scheduling of children, safety of free play, and urban neighborhood play. Following the documentary, participants will explore ways that children can reconnect with the powerful effect that nature plays in understanding our world.  This workshop is designed for parents to assist children of all ages.

COSTS
Per One Session: $25/person, $40/couple
Two Session Class:  $45/person, $75/couple
Any Four Sessions: $90/person, $150/couple
Inspired Parents Members:  $5 off

*please note that some classes are more than one session

Presented by Abby Bordner of Santa Fe’s Birthing Tree Cooperative.