Parents Supporting Parents Supporting ParentsParents

The Canadian Mothers’ UnionThe Canadian Mothers’ Union

May 2015May 2015

Parents Supporting ParentsParents Supporting ParentsParenting lies at the heart of Parenting lies at the heart of

Mothers’ Union Mothers’ Union

VisionVision To encourage parents in their role To encourage parents in their role

as parentsas parents

To increase the stability of family To increase the stability of family lifelife

MissionMission

To equip communities to:To equip communities to:extend their parenting skillsextend their parenting skills

build relationshipsbuild relationships

contribute to the stability of family life in contribute to the stability of family life in societysociety

ObjectivesObjectives

Establish community support networksEstablish community support networks

Empower parents to respond to the growth Empower parents to respond to the growth and development of their childrenand development of their children

Support families and communitiesSupport families and communities

What is “Parents Supporting What is “Parents Supporting Parents”?Parents”?

A program that assists parents A program that assists parents in developing and fostering in developing and fostering strong relationships with their strong relationships with their childrenchildren

It is an informal support group It is an informal support group for parentsfor parents

Parents Supporting Parents…Parents Supporting Parents…

It is It is notnot a parenting course a parenting courseParents discuss parenting Parents discuss parenting

issues with each otherissues with each otherWhat works and what is What works and what is

challengingchallenging

Parents Supporting Parents…Parents Supporting Parents…

Provides an opportunity for parents and Provides an opportunity for parents and caregivers to: caregivers to: get together in a supportive get together in a supportive environmentenvironmenttalk about the joys and challenges of talk about the joys and challenges of bringing up their childrenbringing up their childrenmake new friends, share ideas and make new friends, share ideas and have some fun.have some fun.

How Will Parents Benefit?How Will Parents Benefit?

Increased confidence in Increased confidence in parentingparenting

Will be better equipped to Will be better equipped to foster long-lasting, fulfilling foster long-lasting, fulfilling relationships in the homerelationships in the home

Hopefully will build strong Hopefully will build strong and supportive familiesand supportive families

About This CourseAbout This Course

This course is NOT about This course is NOT about ““10 10 easy ways to be a perfect parenteasy ways to be a perfect parent””

Parenting doesn‘t always come Parenting doesn‘t always come naturallynaturally

We learn as we go alongWe learn as we go along Parents don’t have formal Parents don’t have formal

trainingtraining

ParentingParenting

We tend to We tend to ‘‘parentparent’’ the way we the way we were were ‘‘parentedparented’’

We ALL struggle with our children We ALL struggle with our children at times at times

Parenting is about STICKING Parenting is about STICKING WITH IT through good times and WITH IT through good times and badbad

What Parents LearnWhat Parents Learn

Being a Being a ““good enoughgood enough”” parent is parent is OKOK

We share similar experiencesWe share similar experiencesEach child is different and uniqueEach child is different and uniqueHow we can meet some of our How we can meet some of our

childrenchildren’’s emotional needss emotional needsTo identify with each otherTo identify with each other

A Word About the Course…A Word About the Course…

Parents recognize the good and Parents recognize the good and positive things they are doingpositive things they are doing

They consider any changes they They consider any changes they may want to makemay want to make

The ideas discussed are The ideas discussed are applicable to any family situationapplicable to any family situation

FacilitatorsFacilitators

Facilitators: Facilitators: Assist in making things run Assist in making things run smoothly smoothly Help parents find their own Help parents find their own answersanswers

Facilitators…Facilitators…Facilitatorshave attended a rigorous training program by the Mothers’ Union Chief Trainerare volunteers trained to help participants get the most out of the discussions

Some Session Topics…Some Session Topics…

Building relationships Effective communicationBuilding trust and confidenceDeveloping self-esteemSetting boundaries at homeActive listening

We are called…We are called…

to support one another and to support one another and empower parents to be the best empower parents to be the best they can bethey can be

this program supports parents to this program supports parents to foster loving family relationshipsfoster loving family relationships

love one another as He has loved love one another as He has loved us!us!

Contact InfoContact Info

Margaret deCarvalho Margaret deCarvalho marcarde@ns.sympatico.ca

Parish of French VillageParish of French Village

http://canadianmothersunion.ca/http://canadianmothersunion.ca/