Apr. 6, 2019
By Kerri Gray, M.S., LMFT
ReDiscover
Raising children is similar to running a marathon with challenging hills that seem to never end and valleys that bring joy and strength for the road to come. I have four children: one in middle school, two in college and my oldest is off the payroll, pursuing her career and interests as an adult. While my role as parent continues to evolve, Parenting with Love and Logic has provided me with tools to maintain a positive relationship with my girls as they grow into adults, while also positioning them for success in real world.
I am an advocate for Love and Logic, but with four uniquely different girls, I have learned there is not one parenting philosophy that is 100% effective. Knowledge reduces stress. Seek out many parenting resources then decide what works for you and your family. Be open to new ideas. You may find that a different approach may be just what you needed.
The following are a few things I like about the Parenting with Love and Logic philosophy.
1. Relationship is paramount. Love and Logic provides strategies for parents to maintain a positive relationship with their children, including adolescents, while preparing them for adulthood.
2. Perfection is not obtainable. While parents want their children to make good choices, allowing them to fail provides an opportunity to teach important life skills such as accountability and problem solving. This builds self-confidence and helps children to consider the cause-effect relationship between their choices and consequences.
3. You are not alone. Through my work as a family therapist and Love and Logic educator I have learned that, while everyone’s parenting situation is different, children progress through a series of developmental changes that include somewhat predictable behavioral challenges. Community oriented Love and Logic classes help parents connect and realize they are not alone.
Lee’s Summit CARES has partnered with ReDiscover and the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District for 19 years to offer Parenting with Love and Logic classes to almost 4000 parents and care providers. Participants in the classes experience less parenting stress while improving their parent child relationship.
The Love and Logic program comes in several formats including a class designed just for parents with young children and a separate class for parents with teens. Lee’s Summit CARES has recently purchased two new versions of the program, Supporting Youth with Challenging Pasts and Supporting Youth with Special Needs.
Join us for our upcoming Love and Logic Class, Early Childhood Parenting Made Fun, for parents with children ages 0-6. Class is scheduled for Mondays, April 8 – May 6, from 6:30 PM – 8PM at Great Beginnings Early Childhood Center. The cost to attend all 5 sessions is $50. Scholarships are available. Register at LSCares.org.
To learn about upcoming classes: @LeesSummitCARES or visit us online: LSCares.org.
Author Kerri Gray, M.S., is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She is a guest author for the Lee’s Summit Health Education Advisory Board, a Mayor-appointed, volunteer board that promotes and advocates community health by assessing health issues, educating the public and government agencies, developing plans to address health issues, encouraging partnerships and evaluating the outcomes.
