FROM THE HEART:  
NEWS FROM KIDS FIRST   |   January 2016


Greetings Friends & Supporters,
  

January 2016 is fast approaching, and with the new year come opportunities for all of us to take stock of all we have that is good, and examine the parts of our lives that could use a little improvement.  If you, like many, find yourself stuck in a cycle of resentment and blame and wish to make a fresh start in 2016, we are offering our annual workshop this month on "Forgiveness and Letting Go of the Past," presented by Tricia Weyand, LCPC.

In addition, we will have our support groups for Dads and our after school group for kids starting up in January, as well as two offerings of our co-parenting workshop. 

We wish you all the happiest of holidays, and look forward to seeing many of you at our programs and workshops in the coming year!


Warmest Wishes,

Peg Libby
Executive Director

IN THIS ISSUE
ARTICLE: Teaching By Example, For Better or Worse
CALENDAR: January 2016


QUICK LINKS:







FEATURED ARTICLE:
 
Forgiveness 2016: 
Teaching by Example, for Better or Worse
By Mary Swann, Associate Director of Kids First Center
 
In the 17 years that I have worked here at the Kids First Center, I have talked with thousands of parents, sat in on countless workshops and meetings and read endless facilitators' program notes.  I can say with absolute confidence from these years of observation that the most commonly recurring theme and biggest hurdle parents face when it comes to moving on after divorce centers around the concept of forgiveness.  In fact, one of the workshops that we offer here at Kids First on a regular basis focuses on this very idea, for obvious reasons.

I'm sure that this is not a revelation to you; any image you can conjure up of a divorced couple brings with it an assumption that one or both parties behaved or is behaving badly, and one or both parties is upset about it. Conflict ensues. Grudges are held. No one moves on.
 
To many, the mere mention of the word "forgiveness" in such a scenario suggests surrender; forgetting or condoning the wrongs that were perpetrated against us; in essence, becoming a doormat.  But this is truly not the idea behind the term.  Particularly in the context of divorce and separation, forgiveness represents, instead, a form of acceptance of the things one cannot change and a way of releasing oneself from the negative and destructive pattern of constantly reliving the hurt.  In the words of Italian psychiatrist Roberto Assagioli, "Without forgiveness life is governed by an endless cycle of resentment and retaliation."  And it is stuck in this vortex that, understandably, is where we meet far too many parents here at Kids First.


JANUARY 2016  |  CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Jan. 2 - Portland (207-761-2709) Saturday
Jan. 9 - Topsham (207-761-2709) Saturday
Jan. 9 - Farmington (207-761-2709) Saturday
Jan. 9 - Augusta (207-859-1514) Saturday
Jan. 9 - Lewiston  (207-783-3990) Saturday
Jan. 9 - Belfast (207-338-2200 x109) Saturday
Jan. 13 - So. Paris (207-333-6425) Wednesday
Jan. 21 - Portland  (207-761-2709) Thursday  
Jan. 23 - Waterville (207-859-1514) Saturday
Jan. 30 - Skowhegan (207-859-1514) Saturday

Similar Programs:  
Jan. 9 - Rockland (207-596-0359) Saturday
Jan. 9 - Bangor (207-942- 8200) Saturday
Jan. 16 - Bangor (207-942- 8200) Saturday
Jan. 23 - Newcastle (207-596-0359) Saturday

Tuesdays, 4:30 - 5:45 pm
January 26 - March 1st, 2016  (*new dates!)

Tuesday, 6:30 - 8:00 pm
January 5, 2016

FREE EVENING WORKSHOP:
Monday, January 11, 2016 - 7:00 - 8:30 pm



 WHERE CAN I GET A COPY?   

   book  

  Order directly from our publisher

 or 

  Order from AmazonSmile


  Pick one up at the Kids First Center

  or purchase from your local book store!


 


 

CONTACT INFORMATION  |  QUICK LINKS


ADDRESS:  Kids First Center, 222 St. John. Street, Suite 101, Portland, Maine 04102
PHONE:  207-761-2709     FAX:  207-780-0059                                      
EMAIL:  info@kidsfirstcenter.org      






 Like us on Facebook 

 

 Follow us on Twitter @kidsfirstmaine 

 

 

Do your Amazon shopping at http://smile.amazon.com/ch/22-2993035 and we get 0.5% of your purchase price at no cost to you!