INSIGHT FROM A PARENTING EDUCATOR

Q: What attracted you to the work of parenting education?

A: It was my interest in helping parents gain as many resources as possible to help them in this most essential role of parent. There is a unique power of being a member of a group with similar experiences. It creates an amazing energy, sense of belonging, and freedom for parents to share, encourage one another, console each other, and even laugh at the not-so-funny things we go through with our kids.

Q: What makes you most proud as a Families First Parenting Educator?

A: I enjoy my work as a Families First Parenting Educator because it is an opportunity to share tools and strategies with families. Parents need a space where they can connect with other parents, and as a Parenting Educator, I see those connections at each workshop I facilitate. I see parents sharing and expressing how they feel understood and safe in the company of other parents who share their experiences.

It is also very humbling being a Parenting Educator because with each preparation for a workshop, I am reminded of a strategy to incorporate into my own parenting practices. And when I stand before a group of parents and listen to them, so much of what they say resonates with my own experiences as a parent. It is as if we are all in it together, and as a good community does, we are helping each other to do better and to get better at parenting.