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Parenting can be hard. Really hard! People talk about having to deal with the "terrible two's" and "teenage years," but no one talks about all the other difficulties in-between and how to work through them. Why aren't all parents offered parenting classes to learn the tools that are needed to become good parents?
 Photo by Marcelo Silva
While you may have wanted to have children, were the duties of being a parent ever given to you before you had your child? There isn't a "job description" that's given to parents prior to having children so that they could prepare for what's to come, which means everything is unexpected and really difficult! Imagine applying for a job because it sounds nice and something you knew you've wanted, but yet only having a vague idea of what it entails. But now you're in the middle of it all with your child(ren), and you just about ran out of ideas on what to do!
No matter your child's age, parenting can constantly feel like uncharted territory. Once you start to feel like you've nailed this whole parenting thing down, your child has grown up a bit more and you're faced with more changes. Changes that will then impact you and cause you to have to alter and change your parenting style/technique! Parenting books are nice. But trying to put them into use? Not quite as easy as they make it seem. Contact me to see if I can help!I feel for you, I really do. As your child grows up and changes, you have to make changes. Because what works when your child was 2 years old, won't work when he/she is 10 years old. And what works when your child was 10 years old, definitely won't work when he/she is 17 years old. As a parent, you're constantly having to grow and change with your child, something most people don't talk about! Unlike what most people assume, parenting skills do not come “naturally” and are not “common sense.” Parents typically either use the same parenting methods their parents/caregivers used, or they figure something out on their own. Despite the best of intentions, sometimes these parenting techniques can be problematic or even harmful. For parents who are looking to explore and learn some tools so that they can not only improve their relationship with their child(ren) but can also help their child navigate through life, I offer family therapy, parent support groups, and a 4-week parenting skills course. The parenting skills classes are provided through Parks and Recreational Community Centers throughout the San Gabriel Valley, and both current clients and non-clients can sign up and participate in them. The parenting course will typically briefly cover a broad range of topics, such as: Importance of Coping Skills & Self-Care for Parents; Different Types of Parenting Styles; Setting Limits and Boundaries with Your Child(ren); Ways to Communicate Better with Your Child(ren), etc. Feel free to contact me via email, phone, or my Contact Me page to schedule a free 15-minute consultation so that we can discuss whether child/family therapy, a parent support group, or a parenting skills course may best fit your child and your family's needs! Want to know more still? Check out my About Me page to get a better sense of who I am or take a look through my Blog and see if any of the information I've put up there can be helpful! |
© Michelle Chan
Michelle Chan, LMFT
1245 W. Huntington Dr., Suite 105 Arcadia, CA 91007 (626) 559-1112 FosteringHopeTogether@gmail.com Contact Michelle |