Advocacy center helps with challenges of parenting

Wanted: Real trooper with extensive background in child psychology, an eye for detail but ability to see the big picture, can adjust to changing schedules and moods at a moment’s notice and an endless supply of patience. Oh, yeah — no salary, no vacation and no retirement.

Not many would apply for this job, even in today’s tight economy. However, most parents struggle to meet these requirements daily with little guidance and support, according to Liz Martin, program director at the Southeast Alabama Child Advocacy Center.

While no other relationship carries the same set of rewards, parenting is not without its challenges.

“Parenting can be difficult and frustrating at times,” Martin said. “We offer these classes year-round to help people dealing with a wide variety of situations. Some people come to one specific class, and we have some who go to all of them. Either way, there’s a lot of good information to be gained from the series.”

The classes are free to the public and are taught each Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Child Advocacy Center, 110 Harmony Lane off U.S. Highway 431 near Landmark Park. The series is part of the Principles of Parenting curriculum from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. It is funded from a Children’s Trust Fund of Alabama grant.

Some people attend to find resources to deal with a specific parenting challenge, and some come for tips to better manage their own stress, according to Martin. Between 30 and 35 people attended the latest completed series, which wrapped up at the end of August.

The new series of classes began the first week of September and run through January. These are lead by therapist Kristyn Rouse.

Topics for the next two weeks are “Now that we’re divorced, how can we parent together?” today and “Enjoying each child as an individual” on Oct. 14.

While every topic may not apply to all parents, Martin says most will find more than one class that is applicable to their particular concerns or questions.

“In the class about divorce, we have some single parents, some blended families and some divorced couples, who are able to put their child’s interest before any issues they face with each other,” Martin said. “We like to have a good mix. It makes for a good class, and participants get to see problems from a different view or perspective they might not have considered before.”

The following topic encourages parents to consider each child’s individuality and home in on interests and skills unique to that child.

“We offer a worksheet that helps parents identify a child’s strengths and needs, which can be difficult to make time for when you have multiple kids,” Martin said. “I have three children, and they are all very different. It can be a challenge to not expect the second to fit into the mold of the first one.”

The class can teach parents to help cultivate and nurture the child’s own interests, which may not be exactly what the parent expected.

“When you find their natural interest, whether it be baseball, art or whatever, that’s where they are going to excel,” Martin said.

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Parenting classes
Some of the upcoming topics of the parenting classes offered by the Southeast Alabama Child Advocacy Center include:
- Being understanding
- Sending positive messages
- Communication
- Something better than punishment
- Anger management skills
For more information or to sign up, call 671-1779.