Parenting Skills 101!
TODAY’S CHILDREN REQUIRE MORE PATIENCE FROM PARENTS by that Donnie fella
LEAVENWORTH, KS – Let’s face it. We all have seen them. You’re in the store minding your business and there’s this screaming kid lying on the floor, dramatically crying for his favorite snack or toy. Red faced, hands clinched, snot and slobber running down his face; this is a child on a mission. All you have to do is look at the reaction of the parent to figure out why this kid acts this way. Some parents get embarrassed and kowtow to the child’s tantrum in order to avoid being a public spectacle. Other parents act in the same manner as the child. “Didn’t I tell you to stop this b@#$$t, and get in the d#$@#d cart?” I can’t figure out which one of these reactions is worse because both parents are reinforcing this behavior from their children.
My name is Donnie, I am; a single parent (divorced), a man, and I am also a Parent Support Worker for a mental health clinic. Basically, it is my job to help parents problem solve specific behavioral problems of their children. I’m also an advocate for parents in school settings regarding I.E.P’s, 504 plans, or generally how to educate challenging children. (We’ll talk about this in the future) I also help find resources for parents to help them cope with emotionally disturbed children. No, it’s not a T.V. show. This is my full time occupation, and it’s not easy.
My intention for this column is to take questions from readers about some of the struggles they might be facing regarding their children and help them by providing simple, easy to understand coping mechanisms and strategies. I will pick one or two problems a week and provide reading information, community resources and my working knowledge of what might work to solve your parenting issues.
I must, of course, preface this information by stating that nothing that I say is a magic cure (sorry folks). Children don’t come with directions for a reason, they’re all very different and what works for one might not work for all, so let’s keep this in mind.
Having said that, bring it on! Send me your questions about the problems that you are facing with your children. Email me at albert_latuch@yahoo.com. Don’t mention any real names as we all want to respect your privacy. Just give me your story, age and sex of your kids (trust me it matters). I look forward to your questions, write today, and write often. Let’s get back to being parents again. We can do it!
To see Happy Cole’s standup about kids, click the play arrow located on the video box.