Parent Talk:
A Matter of Interpretation |
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A recent poll by the Associated Press and MTV offered some surprising results for parents. I'd even go so far as to say they were pleasant results. Encouraging. Uplifting, when considering the world young people live in today. Then again, my perspective may have been different depending on which paper I read first. Very different.
I opened up a major newspaper last week to this headline: "Relax, Mom and Dad: Your Kids Like You." The front-page article went on to say that kids' heroes are overwhelmingly their parents; that relationships with family rank higher than any other; that family is the key to happiness. Fifty-five percent of the respondents, ages 13-24, also said religion and spirituality are a big part of their lives.
I had a regular "ahhhh" moment reading the full-page results and hearing the heartfelt quotes from teens around the country.
So imagine my surprise when I opened up a different paper the next day and the headline read: "Youth Say Key to Happiness is Money." |
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Donor Updates |
The YouthZone Foundation recently donated $26,000 to the Pals Program here at YouthZone. The YouthZone Foundation was established in 2001 to serve as a significant funding source for the development of YouthZone programs in order to benefit youth and build a better community in Western Colorado. With the goal of $1million by 2012, the Foundation is more than halfway there, and YouthZone is pleased to have the support of its Pals Program with this significant grant.
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When people ask me, "What does YouthZone do?" one of my favorite answers is, "We help people find their smiles." Year after year I have watched families come through our doors with a countenance that says "frustration, anger, disappointment, fear, hurt, hopelessness." Parents sit on opposite sides of the entry area from their kids. Often few words are exchanged.
It is so rewarding to watch those same folks leave a short hour later, chatting with the YouthZone staff and each other, parents with an arm around their kids, and smiles -real smiles - everywhere. It doesn't always happen that quickly. There is some deep pain that comes through our doors, but with perseverance and a little more time and involvement, those who come with the deepest pain are often the ones who leave with the biggest smiles.
Treating people with kindness, acceptance, support, dignity and respect go a long way. YouthZone is about helping people discover new possibilities, find success, recapture their hope, be happy -all the stuff that is communicated with a smile.
Debbie |
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Welcome to YouthZone. In this month's e-newlsetter you'll find information on parent education, plus a list of our recent Appreciation Award winners who proved, once again, they're "Changing Lives One Smile at a Time." Thanks for reading! |
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Of all the things we do here at YouthZone, one of the most rewarding is helping parents get started on the right foot, building a lasting relationship with their kids. We often ask parents to visualize what their ideal family looks like. "What are the qualities you want to instill in your children? What's the overall feel and attitude you want to create in your family?" Then we encourage them to parent as though they are already there. What you focus on grows. We call it parenting with the end in mind. How do you want this crazy, wild parenting journey to end up? And what are you, perhaps, doing right now that is preventing you from getting there?
What we're talking about is prevention. Preventing the struggles and fighting we so often see in families. Instead, we help families focus on raising kids who will talk openly, show respect, and cooperate. We help parents raise independent thinkers who have a sense of self and are intrinsically motivated. If you want to raise a kid like that... we can help.
Too often parents are afraid to sign up for a class when their kids are young because they fear it will make them look like "bad parents." On the contrary -- the parents we have in classes are among the best and the brightest -- just like you. The bonus is, they often avoid the pitfalls of rebellious teen years, or at least have the tools to manage those years more effectively. The bonus? A lifetime of healthy, happy families.
Want to start now? Try this exercise at home: Visualize how you want to see yourself interacting with your child in a positive, healthy way. Really give yourself a clear picture -- what are you doing? where are you? what's going on around you? The next time you interact with your child, hold that memory in your mind and see if it changes the way you are in that moment.What you focus on grows.
We'd love to hear from you about how you visualized your way to a healthier relationship with your family, moment by moment. Please feel free to share your story with us by emailing Charla Belinski. We look forward to hearing from you!
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YouthZone
Appreciation Banquet
YouthZone's appreciation banquet is held every year to honor those agencies and individuals whose support and encouragement is integral to helping kids and families. This year's dinner, aptly named "Changing Young Lives One Smile at a Time," was hosted by Glenwood Springs High School senior Carson Wilde and Deputy District Attorney Tony Hershey; more than 200 people from Aspen to Parachute were in attendance!
YouthZone Appreciation Award winners:
Gonzalo Gonzalez, Youth of the Year
The Helen K. and Arthur E. Johnson Foundation, Foundation Donor of the Year
Jim and Carolyn O'Donnell, Foundation Donors of the Year
Williams Production, Business Donor of the Year
Pete & Patty Schaffner, Loyal Donor Award
Marci Patillo, Marc Gallegos Pals Mentoring Champion Award
Dave Sturges and Mason Hauptli, Outstanding Pals Pair
Taylor Nicola and Tasia Christensen, Outstanding Pals Pair
Alyson Ross and Yulisa Flores, Outstanding Pals Pair
Ted Edmonds, Outstanding Service Award
Tim Braun, Outstanding Volunteer Award
Jakson Wainwright, Contribution to Community
Sheridan Smith, Girls Circle Volunteer
Staff and Board Service Awards
YouthZone Board of Directors' Gratitude awards:
Marie Hale
Judy Steinberg
Allison Rippy
Abril Loya
Stuart Jenkins
Staff Gratitude awards:
25 years - Debbie Wilde
10 years - Linda Green
5 years - Nancy MacGregor
5 years - Joy Lynn Leuallen.
And finally, a special note of appreciation to our performers, Art-illuma, who presented a special show titled 'Lil Man Gets a Pal.' Members of the group are Jordon, Landon, Michael and Taylor Churchill, Blair Bracken and Alex Loter. (View their hilarious performance www.ArtillumA.com) |
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YZ Happenings
YouthZone board member named Boettcher Scholar!
Allie Rippy, a senior at Glenwood Springs High School and a youth member of both the YouthZone Board of Directors and TITANS, has been named one of Colorado's Boettcher Scholars! The prestigious Boettcher scholarship is awarded annually to high school seniors who exhibit excellence in academics, leadership and community involvement. Its mission is to honor Colorado's future leaders by providing a full four-year scholarship to any Colorado university. Congratulations, Allie!
Congratulations to YouthZone's Up-Valley Division manager Evan Zislis, a proud new papa! Evan, and his wife, Jeet, welcomed their first child, a baby girl named Juniper, on Sunday March 14th. She joins a growing family of babies at our YouthZone offices. Stay tuned for more...
Congratulations to YouthZone's Patty Schaffner on 20 years of service to YouthZone this month! Patty is the director of the Pals Mentoring Program, a volunteer mentoring program for kids K-8th grade. "At YouthZone, I work with amazing volunteers, wonderful families and fantastic staff. What's not to like?" Patty and her husband, Pete (who also teaches parenting classes alongside Patty), have two grown children.
YouthZone's popular Parenting Classes continue to be offerend in several locations this spring. Call for information or registration, 970-945-9300.
Developing Capable Young People, GWS
Prepare your child to live successfully in a challenging world.
Mondays, beginning April 5th
YZ Glenwood Springs office, 803 School St.
Parenting with Love & Logic, Rifle
Learn how to establish healthy control in your family without resorting to anger, threats and nagging.
Wednesdays, beginning April 21st
YZ Rifle office, 136 E. 12th Street
Parenting Through Divorce
This introductory one-night workshop helps parents learnt ot communicate with their former spouse, how to co-parent in different households, and how to lay a foundaiton for a great relationship. YouthZone is a certified provider of hte Parenting Through Divorce class required by the Ninth Judicial Court (Meeker to Aspen).
Rifle
April 29 or May 17
YZ Rifle Office, 136 E. 12th Street
Glenwood
April 20 or May 4
YouthZone office, 803 School Street, Glenwood Springs
Aspen
April 7
Schultz Health & Human Services Bldg., Aspen
Save the date!
Dr. Jim Fay, co-founder of Parenting with Love & Logic, will present a benefit for YouthZone Saturday, Oct 2 at Rifle High School. More info to come! |
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Thanks for reading. If you'd like to share your own parenting success stories, we'd love to hear from you! If you are experiencing a time when you could use a little help navigating the parenting world, we'd be honored to hear from you as well.
Sincerely,
YouthZone
www.YouthZone.com
970-945-9300
Lori Mueller, Program Director
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