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Balanced Parenting Newsletter

The Freedom of Taking Responsibility -  Ironic, huh?                        July, 2009

In This Issue
Parenting Tip of the Month
Bette's Speaking Engagements
The Irony of Responsibility
Coffee with Bette
Support for Parents
 
 
Balanced Parenting Tip of the Month
 
Expectations
 
This month be aware of your expectations of your kids.  Are they reasonable?  Do they really know what you think they should when you say to yourself "he should know better"?
 
Are your kids developmentally ready to do or understand what is being expected of them? 
 
If you're not completely sure how much is too much in terms of your expectations, try two things:
1.  Ask a friend what he/she thinks;
2.  Consult a child development book about what kids his age are capable of.  My favorite series is the Gesell Institute's Your One Year Old, Your Two Year Old, etc...depending upon your child's age.
 
 
Bette's
Speaking Engagements
 
 
 
July 7th
9:30 - 11:00 A.M.
Coffee with Bette
Chocolatine

********
  
July 15th, 2009
7:00 - 8:30 P.M.
at My Gym Thousand Oaks
 
"Raising Great Kids Without Bribes, Threats, Spanking or Pulling Your Hair Out"
 
No charge.
Please RSVP to me by email
This event will be videotaped.
 
*******
 
 
Watch the Speaking Engagements page on my website for more appearances and information or call for more information.
805-230-2464
 
 
 I would be honored to be introduced to your school, group, or company!  
 
"It is not only for what we do that we are held responsible, but also for what we do not do."
 
John Baptiste Moliére


If you enjoy reading this newsletter, please feel free to forward it to your friends.
 
 
If you have any thoughts, suggestions, class ideas, article requests, constructive criticism or otherwise great ideas, feel free to let us know! 

Don't forget to visit and make comments on my blog 
 
 
Follow me on Twitter
@BalParenting
 
Join my Facebook Group
Balanced Parenting
 
Happy summer to you all!  The temperatures are rising, so the fun begins.  Swimming, beaching, vacations and waterplay are here!  Enjoy the fun and don't forget to enjoy your kids!
 
Wishing you balance,
 
Bette
 
 
 
The Irony of Responsibility
 
One of the greatest gifts we give our kids is the ability to take responsibility for their actions, especially their mistakes.  As I always say, of course, the best way to teach this is to model it. When we make a mistake, the greatest thing we can do for our kids and for ourselves is to admit our mistake, take full responsibility for it, to apologize and make an attempt to make it right. 
 
In taking these steps, there is freedom.  We don't have to cover anything up, we don't have to pretend anything, we don't have to defend ourselves and it often disarms the anger and disappointment that our errors may cause in others. 
 
Admitting our mistakes also makes us wonderfully human.  If we can just be our imperfect selves then we don't have to expect perfection.  It also enables us to be more compassionate toward others' human-ness. 
 
I understand that it requires that we allow ourselves to be vulnerable when we admit our foibles.  For some people that is very uncomfortable.  However, when you can accept your own imperfections, I'm pretty sure that those who care about you will also be willing to accept them.  In fact, you are likely to find that others may be more kind to you than you are to yourself.
 
So, I challenge you to take the risk and allow yourself the freedom that goes along with taking responsibility!
 
 
 
 
 
 
Coffee with Bette  coffee cup
 
 
Our next Coffee with Bette will be this coming Tuesday, July 7th from 9:30 to 11 A.M. at Chocolatine in Thousand Oaks.  Come ask me your parenting questions in one of my favorite settings!  Have a latte and a pastry and some stimulating parenting chat!  Check out my website for the full address.   
 
Balanced Parenting Website 
 
Everyone is welcome! 
 
P.S.  Don't forget, the parenting advice is free, but the coffee and pastries are not.  :)
 

 
Balanced Parenting's
Groups and Classes
 
Our On-Going Group for
Parents of Preschoolers
will meet next on 
July 8th, 2009
7:30 - 9:00 P.M.
Thousand Oaks 
We meet monthly for learning and support
 
This is an open group.
Everyone is welcome! 
 
 $20.00 per month per person
$30.00 per couple
 ************ 
 Our On-Going Group for 
 Parents of Teens and Tweens
This group is on hiatus for the summer.  Feel free to contact me if you are interested in coming in the future.
We meet monthly for learning and support
 
This is an open group.
Everyone is welcome!
 
 $20.00 per month per person
$30.00 per couple
************* 
To R.S.V.P. for any of these groups, or for further information, please e-mail bette@balancedparenting.com
or call 805-230-2464
 
Feel free to pass along the information to anyone you know who might be interested!
We all need support!
 
 
 

COMING SOON!

 P ARENTING BACKWARD 
 
  THE SERIES  
 
Watch future newsletters for my new, very exciting seminar series called PARENTING BACKWARD.   Coming this fall!