How do I get my child to...?

While talking to another parent yesterday we were sharing "Family Meeting" stories. What resonated with me more than anything is how Family Meetings teach our children and ourselves how to appreciate people's actions because these actions help the family move forward in positive directions. Kids learn to find the best in themselves and in others. This is the foundation of the Parenting On Track Program and if you let "it" be the teacher kids will start to contribute and become caring, responsible, independent young adults.

When asking and talking to other moms and dads about, "How do I get my child to..." I realized that the program teaches us that there is only one problem: we all want to belong. When we belong we feel loved and contribute to the success of the group.

Here is a short list of things parents ask: "getting" kids to, pick up toys, clear the table, say please and thank you, share, eat at the dinner table, dress them selves, get into their car seat, eat healthy foods, and be nice to others.

Stop asking that question and start implementing the family meeting as part of a 20 minute weekly routine. Learning how is the key as we have learned with 3 kids of our own and three jobs between us and selling a house and starting a business and holding on to our lifestyle all with help from Family Meetings.

FREE 60-minute Web Event on March 18th, 2010 at 8:00 PM ET from Parenting On Track

I am pleased to share with you Vicki Hoelf's bio, creator of the Parenting On Track Program. She is your host for the FREE web event this Thursday evening:

Hello, I'm Vicki. Mother of 5, Parent Educator, and Creator of the Parenting On Track™ Program
Over 20 years ago, as a new mother, I found myself making 5 Key Decisions that turned out to be the MOST important decisions I would make as a parent.
The decisions I made ended up being the difference between a life with children defined by

• tantrums
• fighting
• disrespect
• constant battles about things that don’t even matter

and having the life I’ve enjoyed day in, and day out, for over 20 years - a life with kids that’s filled with

• respectful, relaxed conversation
• cooperation
• mutual respect
• personal responsibility
• and an investment by all of us - in the health and well-being of each and every member of the family.

What I came to realize after years as a Parent Educator is that EVERY parent is presented with these same 5 Parenting Decisions, though most don’t even realize these decisions exist.
And, because parents don’t know about these decisions, they often end up dealing with tantrums, fighting and daily battles with their children hoping that somehow, some way everything will work out in the end. Pretty discouraging.
Here is what I’d like to do. I’d like to share these 5 Key Parenting Decisions with you so you can begin to improve the relationship with your children and enjoy the parenting journey.
Is it a pipe-dream? No, or I would have been out of business years ago. These 5 Decisions form the foundation of the Parenting On Track™ program – a program that has improved life for tens of thousands of parents already experiencing the Parenting On Track™ Difference.
So, I invite you to join me for a FREE 60-minute Web Event.

Why check out Parenting On Track's free web event?

On March 19th, Vicki will host a free 60 minute web event introducing the Parenting On Track program. Check it out and let me know, I totally trust that you will. When you let me know via Facebook or this blog, I will give you a discount on the purchase of your program.

I want to let you know that this program is not just a silly thing we do every once and a while. This is how our family runs and runs well. When I am not parenting from my best the program works. My kids are only 1, 3 and 4 and when I have a tantrum they know how to help me get out of the rabbit hole because they live the routines of the program everyday and have since they were born.

My goal is to inspire parents to get on board with Parenting On Track. Even when the last thing they want is some bubbly stay-at-home mom talking about changing their ways to include building strong relationships with their kids, partners and husbands through this program.

Staying out of our children's way

Stay out of your children's way, a lesson from Parenting On Track, and parents I assure you we will watch the growth of an amazing person. Stay out of their way and we get to be present in the moment when our children are learning to be capable without us. Stay out of their way, be quiet , be present and let me know how you cherished the moment within yourself.

Remember to let your child have the moment for themselves. The learning will run deeper and that is the art of encouragement as taught by Parenting On Track.