March 01, 2010
Kids and Media Access
I have read many great articles on other websites about the issue of controlling children’s access to media. It took me a while to find the inspiration to write my own, because I thought so many people had done a thorough job of addressing the issue.
I was at a party listening to a mom talk to someone else about her belief that watching shows or playing video games with violence would inspire her young son to be more violent. When Martel was 3 or 4, I am sure I probably had that same conversation with other parents. I began to think about my own process of letting go of media control and was inspired to write about my process of letting of media control with Martel.
Read more of controlling media access...
Using power over children
I also finished an article titled “Using Power Over Children.” Many of you may have already read this article as it made some rounds on Facebook.Martel (8) and I had an exchange the other day that reminded me of the power adults have over children. He came into the room to let me know that he needed to call his friend to tell him about his newest trading cards.
After he informed me of his intentions, I said “Is there something else you wanted to talk to your friend about, maybe getting together to play? He smiled and nodded. I then said “I knew you wanted a playdate! I could just tell.” Martel’s smile turned into a frown and he began to cry….
Read more...
New article published at the Natural Child Project
I had an article published on Jan Hunt’s Natural Child Project website. I found Jan’s website soon after Martel was born and it inspired me in many ways. She and I did a few phone counseling sessions when Martel was around 3 years old.When I launched my website, I contacted Jan to let her know about it and thank her for her support of my parenting journey. She asked if I would write an article for her website, which is titled The Parenting Spectrum.
Go to the Natural Child Project to read my article...
The Parental Intelligence Newsletter
I also learned about another great resource called The Parental Intelligence Newsletter. Bob Collier, a stay-at-home dad publishes the newsletter and he picked up a couple of my articles. He puts together a monthly newsletter that has links to many, many great parenting articles. He has been publishing the newsletter since 2002 and you can subscribe to receive them each month.Go to the Parental Intelligence Newsletter...
Rethinking Everything Conference
In September, over Labor Day weekend in Dallas, I will be conducting a 4-hour immersion workshop at the Rethinking Everything Conference. My workshop is called “Liberation Parenting: Breaking free of the paradigm of control and domination.” In the workshop we will focus on the breaking free from the cycle of socialization in order to create new ways of being with children.There will be some great presentations and speakers at the conference. I was excited about seeing that Gerry Spence, a well-known trial attorney, will be speaking at the conference. When I graduated from law school, two people gave me his book titled How to Argue and Win Every Time. When he wrote the book he had never lost a trial. He was the trial attorney for Karen Silkwood’s family, for those who have seen the movie Silkwood.
At first I was put off by the title, but I read the book and found it to be inspiring. The message I got from it was that we are most powerful and persuasive when we speak from our hearts and speak from our own sincere beliefs. No tricks or gimmicks; just be true to yourself.
Go to Rethinking Everything Conference website...
Thanks as always for your support of my newsletter and website!
Teresa Graham Brett
