Announcements
Tales of the Parenting Experience
“You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll kvell” Tuesday, January, 26 @ 7:00 PM A fundraiser for the The Jewish Community Center, Sonoma County’s teen education program, Chaverim A one man show of humorous and heartfelt situations, stories and anecdotes about parenting, grandparenting and general dealing with kids of all ages (even the ones that never grew up). Rick states: “As a parent, grandparent, teen educator, social worker, camp director and parenting coach and one who loves children of all ages, I have many heartwarming and humorous stories to tell which embrace parenting issues that come up on a daily basis.” Does it ever feel like an ongoing battle between “us” and “them”(the kids) Do you say things to your kids that you regret later? Has that sweet, precocious, adorable child morphed into an irritating, challenging, negative human being? Do you find … Read entire article »
Parenting Advice Blog
Through adult understanding of and agreement about our own values, we can identify values and virtues that we want to model and teach to our children. Parents, teachers and administrators working together have the power to establish “foundational culture” in the family, school, and community that serves to inspire the development of good Values and Virtues. We have many parenting tips for you, based on years of parenting experience, teaching and group work. Discover how choosing your battles, knowing and asserting your limits and boundaries, and timing can mean the difference between effective and ineffective parenting. The parenting tips included in each one of our talks can serve as some of the most powerful advice you can get in helping your kids to develop good values in life and to aspire to … Read entire article »
Parenting Teachable Moments
Our children see us, watch us, judge us, and on a rare occasion, listen to or hear us. Our best teachable moments are how we act: While driving While checking out at a store While on the phone to discuss a bill, credit card, etc.-hard time understanding When you make a mistake When you speak to others face to face When you are watching sports on TV When you are at your computer When you are at the airport, on a plane When you are out to dinner When you are exhausted, frustrated, etc. When you are wrong When you lose an argument When you are interacting with your spouse/partner When it is time to vote When you get pulled over by a police officer When you are in a traffic jam When someone cuts you off When someone yells at you When someone flips you off When someone … Read entire article »
Headline
Tales of the Parenting Experience
“You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll kvell” Tuesday, January, 26 @ 7:00 PM A fundraiser for the The Jewish Community Center, Sonoma County’s teen education program, Chaverim A one man show of humorous and heartfelt situations, stories and anecdotes about parenting, grandparenting and general dealing with kids of all ages (even the ones that never grew up). Rick states: “As a parent, grandparent, teen educator, social worker, camp director and parenting coach and one who loves children of all ages, I have many heartwarming and humorous stories to tell which embrace parenting issues that come up on a daily basis.” Does it ever feel like an ongoing battle between “us” and “them”(the kids) Do you say things to your kids that you regret later? Has that sweet, precocious, adorable child morphed into an irritating, challenging, negative human being? Do you find … Read entire article »
Featured
Bad Behavior Thrives on Results
Your 6 year old is demanding a cookie before dinner. It starts with a request and escalates to a demand and all the way to a temper tantrum and a fit, screaming, … Read more »
Stop “Parenting from Exhaustion” and Learn How to Recharge
Two hours on Wednesday evening, November 5, from 7-9PM at the JCC, can make parenting easier and more joyful! I have been leading conversations on parenting for the last several years and have … Read more »
Hold On to Your Kids–Workshop! March 30th, 2014
“Hold On To Your Kids” is named after the book of the same name by Gordon Newfeld and Gabor Mate. Learn about a blending of traditional Jewish parenting values with a revived concept of the … Read more »
Popular
Russian Roulette; Parenting Your Teens and Risky Behaviors Part 2
If you equate “the random bullet” in Russian Roulette with the chance that substances have for impacting your life negatively, one can see the analogy. In many cases it appears that (viewing … Read more »
30 is the new 10, or at best 20; Raising an adult child
I recently had lunch with my old buddy and his 35 year-old son. As we were celebrating that “50” is the “new 60”, and “50” is the “new 40”, he chimed in, … Read more »
Parenting Advice Blog
Through adult understanding of and agreement about our own values, we can identify values and virtues that we want to model and teach to our children. Parents, teachers and administrators working together … Read more »
Latest
Bad Behavior Thrives on Results
Your 6 year old is demanding a cookie before dinner. It starts with a request and escalates to a demand and all the way to a temper tantrum and a fit, screaming, yelling, threatening, holding the entire family hostage to the tirade. Everyone is angry and upset because this situation disturbed dinner, A situation like this often leads to going to bed without resolution. The whole house is turned upside down. It has worked before many times! And it will work again! The child has gotten his way. Your 10 year-old makes everyone late for school or work every day. He dawdles, reads, plays on his computer, teases his older sister and the dog intermittently or goes … Read entire article »
Stop “Parenting from Exhaustion” and Learn How to Recharge
Two hours on Wednesday evening, November 5, from 7-9PM at the JCC, can make parenting easier and more joyful! I have been leading conversations on parenting for the last several years and have had consistent feedback that attendees came away with at least one or two new strategies that helped. This class is open to parents of children of all ages, and promises to be engaging and worthwhile. Bring your friends because everyone is welcome! Please see the attached form, and if you would like to come, you can bring the registration fee with you. Let me know you will be there by emailingrickc@jccsoco.org. Stop “Parenting from Exhaustion” and Learn How to Recharge Wed., Nov. 5 JCC, Sonoma County 1301 Farmers Lane, Suite 103 Santa … Read entire article »
Hold On to Your Kids–Workshop! March 30th, 2014
“Hold On To Your Kids” is named after the book of the same name by Gordon Newfeld and Gabor Mate. Learn about a blending of traditional Jewish parenting values with a revived concept of the importance of “healthy attachment.” Appropriate for parents of all age children and teens. Do your children think they run the show? Are you unhappy with your children’s peer group choices? Is there an endless loop of circular arguing, negotiating with your children? Is your child lost behind media and ear buds? Has your sweet child turned into a ball of anger, frustration and emotional outburst? Are you doubting the effectiveness of your “parenting skill and style”? How much of your parenting a reaction the way you were parented? Do you think you are the only … Read entire article »
Boundaries vs. Barriers
Boundaries mark the healthy space we put in between ourselves and other people in normal daily social interaction. We share an understanding of our boundaries with other people we encounter by giving them verbal, nonverbal and visual cues. Shared and communicated boundaries enable us all to feel comfortable within the definitions of our particular relationships. People who do not learn to set, share and express boundaries often have problems with other people overstepping, taking advantage and literally walking all over them. People who are reluctant or reticent to set their own boundaries often invite into their lives just the kinds of people who can be invasive, inappropriate and even abusive. It is good to be a … Read entire article »
Trust is Something you Give
A clean and sober alcoholic reaches out to save a homeless alcoholic who later breaks into his house, attempts to rob him, and ends up stabbing him to death… A long time trusted church bookkeeper is found to be stealing hundreds of thousands from the church that trusted her…. A “benevolent” man approaches a homeless mom and her children begging for money outside of a department store. The man befriends the family, takes them inside the store, buys them all kinds of things they need, and wins their trust. During shopping spree he offers to run out for some burgers for the whole family. The naïve and innocent daughter offers to go with him and the desperate … Read entire article »
Dear Mom
Dear Mom, I am so grateful you are my mom, and that you are still on the planet with us. I love you. I appreciate your wisdom, and respect your deep intuition and care. Thanks for giving me life, caring for me, walking me through the stages, getting me a toy after each of the many shots the doctor gave me. Thanks for helping me to be an individual by dressing me in cute and awkward clothes. Thanks for rescuing me from my bad dreams and night terrors. Thanks for unconditionally accepting me. Thanks for all the thousands of chats on the phone, and for still being able to give me a pep talk in a moment … Read entire article »
Parenting a Child with Bad Behavior
Your 6 year old is demanding a cookie before dinner. It starts with a request and escalates to a demand and all the way to a temper tantrum and a fit; screaming, yelling, threatening, holding the entire family hostage to the tirade. Everyone is angry and upset at each other. You’re having a disturbed dinner, often going to bed without resolution. The whole house is turned upside down. It has worked before many times! And it will work again! The child has gotten his way. Your 11-year-old makes everyone late for school or work every day. He dawdles, reads, plays on his computer, teases his older sister and the dog intermittently or goes back to bed instead … Read entire article »
The Walk of Shame; Glamorizing Drinking
This morning while driving to teach on the first day of school I was listening to the local Pop hip-hop rap favorite station of the kids. You know, the one they listen to on the way to school every day. The morning DJ, whose name I cannot remember, which is just as well, was being razzed by her colleague and accused of participating in a “walk of shame”. I listened closely to try to understand what this meant. With clear and overt innuendos, the female DJ explained that last night she had stayed at the bar and was so intoxicated that some “gentleman” she did not know kindly drove her home. She woke up with “smeared makeup … Read entire article »
Gratitude; Noticing things that went right today
We tend to focus on the things that go wrong each day. We often obsess on our plight as the victim, the recipient of such bad luck. Did you ever stop to make a list of the things that went “right”. It is more mundane, less dramatic but significantly more important, and better for your soul and the souls of those that have to listen to your story. Here is my list for today! I woke up alive and well. My MRI was negative. I found my car keys just in time My car started. My power didn’t go out. I didn’t get in an accident. I didn’t drop my cell phone in the toilet. I didn’t lose my credit cards. I have all … Read entire article »