“Children don’t come with a manual.” The first time I heard this, it went right over my head – having not yet become a parent. Upon having children of my own, I quickly came to appreciate the poignancy of this comment. No doubt, parenting is a challenge, and some children are clearly more difficult than others.
The Parenting Group Therapy sessions offered by Dorene Fick, LCSW are a great opportunity to take on some of the tough questions, with the guidance of a mental health professional and the support of other parents. Focused on those with children aged 2-12 years, the group sessions will begin in July and run for about 6-8 weeks. There will be separate groups for Mothers & Fathers (Step Mothers & Fathers are welcome, too).
For more information call 540-772-5140. Or, you may contact Dorene Fick directly at DFick@PsychHealthRoanoke.com
Showing posts with label parenting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label parenting. Show all posts
Monday, June 22, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Sport Parent
With Mothers Day on the way, thoughts turn to all things parent related. Many remember the time when t-ball and all the rest was dad’s thing. But times have changed with dads coaching daughters, who in turn grew up as moms with the skill and the will to coach their own daughters – and now sometimes their sons, too.
Sport Parenting is still a great challenge made all the more difficult by the increasing expectations and pressures for success that now fall far too soon on children. Some points to ponder on being a champion sport parent.
1. Support your youth athlete by providing a safe, sensible opportunity to train and compete, and grow from the experience of sport.
2. Establish an ongoing dialogue with the coach so that you understand his or her philosophy and remain aware of your youth athlete’s strengths and weaknesses - athletically and psychologically.
3. Provide unconditional emotional support as your youth athlete rides the ups and downs of the competitive experience, and help him or her learn the lessons of winning and losing.
4. Avoid coaching (unless you are the coach), that is, avoid giving specific instructions or critique of the technical or tactical aspects of sport.
5. Accept - even as you are bewildered by - your youth athlete’s varying demonstration of composure and distress, maturity and neediness in the competitive environment.
6. Talk candidly with your youth athlete about the role you should play as a parent at competitions. Be prepared to keep your distance.
7. Work actively to manage your own anxieties and frustrations as you watch your youth athlete compete. Be sure to set these aside before you interact afterwards.
8. Show composure in the face of stress, and let this serve as a model to your youth athlete. He or she is watching.
9. Identify mutual expectations for your youth athlete’s commitment to training and competition as you make successive commitments to support his or her sport activities financially and logistically.
10. Guide your youth athlete in balancing sport, school, family and other responsibilities.
Check out our website for more on sport parenting
Sport Parenting is still a great challenge made all the more difficult by the increasing expectations and pressures for success that now fall far too soon on children. Some points to ponder on being a champion sport parent.
1. Support your youth athlete by providing a safe, sensible opportunity to train and compete, and grow from the experience of sport.
2. Establish an ongoing dialogue with the coach so that you understand his or her philosophy and remain aware of your youth athlete’s strengths and weaknesses - athletically and psychologically.
3. Provide unconditional emotional support as your youth athlete rides the ups and downs of the competitive experience, and help him or her learn the lessons of winning and losing.
4. Avoid coaching (unless you are the coach), that is, avoid giving specific instructions or critique of the technical or tactical aspects of sport.
5. Accept - even as you are bewildered by - your youth athlete’s varying demonstration of composure and distress, maturity and neediness in the competitive environment.
6. Talk candidly with your youth athlete about the role you should play as a parent at competitions. Be prepared to keep your distance.
7. Work actively to manage your own anxieties and frustrations as you watch your youth athlete compete. Be sure to set these aside before you interact afterwards.
8. Show composure in the face of stress, and let this serve as a model to your youth athlete. He or she is watching.
9. Identify mutual expectations for your youth athlete’s commitment to training and competition as you make successive commitments to support his or her sport activities financially and logistically.
10. Guide your youth athlete in balancing sport, school, family and other responsibilities.
Check out our website for more on sport parenting
*John Heil
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