Empowered to Connect Conference

Do you work with kids, live with kids, ever spend any time with children?  Have you ever read "The Connected Child" by Dr. Karyn Purvis?  She came to Nashville this weekend along with Michael and Amy Monroe from Tapestry Ministry to lead an Empowered to Connect conference.  Show Hope sponsored the event and it was WONDERFUL!  Although it is "geared" to adoptive children or foster children, their principles apply to EACH and every kid I know.  We talked about how to achieve secure attachment with our kids, and to promote TRUST by EMPOWERING, CONNECTING, and CORRECTING.  One of the things that really got me was when Dr. Purvis asked which do you do more of every day....connecting or correcting.  You know, my husband and I chose for me to leave my pediatric practice and become a stay-at-home Mom about 3 years ago.  Best decision for our family we have ever made.  BUT, lately, with three busy boys and a busy schedule, I have found myself CORRECTING more than CONNECTING.  I have been practicing an avoidant attachment with my kids....go to your room until you can come back to the family and be nice, instead of teaching them AS a family to come to a resolution...redo and resolve.

What are the goals when we discipline our kids?  How does what we do know and the parenting we practice affect our relations with our kids when they are teens?  I liked and very much agree with her thoughts that when discipline is "over" we want corrected behavior, contentment in the caregiver and child, and a deepened connection between the two.  Aren't we created to love?  to touch, to talk, to share?  To feel connected to God and to each other?  TRUST is so much......

Check out the website :  www.empoweredtoconnect.org and www.child.tcu.edu when you have time.  And read her book.  It is available on Amazon....

Love,

Eve