PARENT SUMMIT ONLINE

As Andy shares in Parenting and in the video teaching, he greatly admired the dynamic he observed in Sandra’s family.  Once he became a parent, Andy became more aware of the way her family members enjoyed one another and remained connected across a geographic distance.  He wanted the same kind of bond in the family he and Sandra were starting, which prompted their commitment to making their relationships with their children their north star.

Similarly, you have likely met or observed other parents whose style of relating impressed you.  Perhaps you noticed the absence of conflict or power struggles.  Or maybe the genuine care and attention family members showed for one another.  Whatever it is, you noticed and formed a favorable impression.  Now it’s time to take it one step further in pursuit of emulating these qualities in the way you parent.  

After thinking about the parents you admire, choose one of them with whom you can get better acquainted.  It could be someone from work, church, your neighborhood, school, or community.  Before your next group session, contact this potential parenting mentor and arrange to meet for coffee or a meal.  Simply tell this person you admire the way they parent and would like to chat about what they’ve learned.  While you’ll want to keep the tone relaxed and conversational, you may find the following questions helpful to jumpstart your time together.

1. What are the current ages and stages of their children?  What parental challenges are they currently facing?
2. How do they see themselves relating to their children once they’re adults?  What are they doing now to have that kind of future relationship?
3. Looking back to when they first became parents, how has their parenting style changed?  What was the catalyst for such change?
4. What has informed and influenced the way they parent?  What’s been their north star or guiding goal?