Island Parent Pre-Summer 2023
Vancouver Island’s Parenting Resource for 35 Years • Explore the Island: A Region-by-Region Guide • Road Trip Food • Things to Do in June & July • Play On: Outdoor Games for Families • Seas, Trees & a Gentle Breeze • Tweens & Teens
Vancouver Island’s Parenting Resource for 35 Years • Explore the Island: A Region-by-Region Guide • Road Trip Food • Things to Do in June & July • Play On: Outdoor Games for Families • Seas, Trees & a Gentle Breeze • Tweens & Teens
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Ahh yes. My daughter wanted this freedom, why did I have<br />
to do all the work? It was up to her to convince me that she<br />
was ready for this responsibility. If you can convince me that<br />
you have a plan to stay safe and that you can handle this, I’m<br />
willing to figure this out with you.<br />
She started coming up with some ideas.<br />
“What else?” I asked.<br />
Never be afraid to ask that question ten or more times, it’s<br />
amazing what great ideas can be squeezed out of a person.<br />
This was brainstorming at its finest because my determined<br />
daughter was able to be the boss of herself, the one person<br />
she wouldn’t argue with and who made sense to her. We actually<br />
came up with a plan that I could live with although I still<br />
wished she just wouldn’t go!<br />
<strong>Parent</strong>ing teens can feel a little wishy washy and it would<br />
be nice just to say “no” and have them respect our limits but<br />
in reality, it might not be that great after all. Don’t we want our<br />
kids to think for themselves? Did it work when our parents took<br />
all the control? How did you respond to that? I just got good at<br />
lying and climbing out the basement window. I didn’t want that<br />
for my kids but it was hard, I had no solid proof that this was<br />
the right thing to do.<br />
Looking back now I realize that this was one of the most important<br />
pieces to keeping my kids safe and helping them navigate<br />
through the toddler years of adulthood. I had to be their<br />
consultant, their coach, not the boss. This approach taught<br />
assertiveness and preserved a close relationship between us.<br />
It didn’t always feel right but what does when you go through<br />
some of these typical challenges of raising teens?<br />
Dr. Allison Rees is parent educator, counsellor and<br />
coach at LIFE Seminars (Living in Families Effectively),<br />
lifeseminars.com.<br />
STAGES<br />
<strong>Summer</strong> Programs<br />
Running This July & August<br />
<strong>Pre</strong>school Dance Camps<br />
For 3-5 year olds in Ballet, Jazz,<br />
Musical Theatre & Tap<br />
Youth Dance Camps<br />
For dancers 6-12 years old in<br />
Jazz, Hip Hop & Acrobatics<br />
Dance Intensive<br />
For dancers 11 years old & up with<br />
Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop & Acrobatics<br />
Little Dancers Classes<br />
Are running through the summer for<br />
those 18 months to 3 years old<br />
Come Dance With Us<br />
Call (250) 384-3267, email: stagesdance@shaw.ca,<br />
or visit us at www.stagesdance.com<br />
<strong>Island</strong><strong>Parent</strong>.ca<br />
<strong>Pre</strong>-<strong>Summer</strong> <strong>2023</strong> 37
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