Wonerful Meeting

We've all sat through one meeting or another that we just couldn't wait to be set free from.  This afternoon, approximately 3 dozen local parents met at Leoti's Christ Covenant Church to attend a meeting for parents of teens and pre-teens.  Author and world wide speaker, Mr. Rich Van Pelt, led us in the 3-hour class to become better parents.  This class was, without a doubt, one of the greatest that I have ever been included in.  Mr. Van Pelt was able to reach into our minds and hearts and help us to explore the ways that each of us can become the best parents possible.  And, as he explained, it is never too late to work on our parenting skills.  Our children will thank us someday for our efforts.  Even if they don't, they'll be better adults for what we have done.My only regret was that all parents could not attend this seminar in helping your child transfer into adulthood with this life-changing program.

If Mr. Van Pelt's name sounds familiar, it may be because he has written several books including HELPING TEENAGERS IN CRISIS.  People from around the world have gotten to know him through his work with Compassion International out of Colorado Springs, Colorado.  His Christian ministry with C.I. reaches out to children and adults from everywhere.  He recently returned from Haiiti.

Being a pre-teen or teenager in 2012 has never been as tough as it is today.  Every day, our children face a very scary world out there.  I grew up in the 60s and 70s and thought that growing up then was no walk in the park.  In comparison, I had it much better than most of our youth face today.  As parents, we can help our children to know the difference between black and white and to realize that there are also gray areas in our world.  

Did you know that less than half of our children in the U.S. today are being raised in homes with 2 parents?

Parents are the most important, valuable and influential people in our children's lives.   Therefore it is imperative that we be the best possible parents that we can be.  It is not always going to be easy to be that parent so we need to learn to accept positive guidance along the way.

Fewer children are being raised around extended family including grandparents, uncles, aunts, etc than ever before.

Here are a couple of books that we can read to help us guide our children successfully through the transition from being a child into a responsible and happy adult:



RAISING ADULTS by Jim Hancock


PARENTING WITH LOVE AND LOGIC



Entertaining videos by Jeff Allen are also available.  For more information, please go to

www.jeffallen.org .

Jeff Allen's inspirational work is not only directed towards childrearing but also to marriage, etc.  His videos are comedic but highly educational and are directed towards today and tomorrow.

I urge you to grasp your opportunity to attend any seminar with Mr. Van Pelt anytime it is offered to you.

VLE-B