August 1,
byron shire
EchoCreating Access Respect and EquityC.A.R.E.C.A.R.E. Parent Support Programust over three years ago my daughters boyfriend, Rob, sent me an email with the job description of Coordinator, C.A.R.E. Parent Support Program in the Byron Shire. Sof, this position looks right for you and your daughters would love some mothering again were his remarks. Even though I had not spent much time with Rob, he knew me well. Those words Creating Access Respect and Equity C.A.R.E. say it all for me and were certainly the draw card to bring me back to my culture again after stints in Asian and Aboriginal communities. I am the mother of three daughters and one son. Although, when they were children, I did not have the wisdom I do now around parenting, I am proud to say that all four offspring have chosen their own life styles and I respect them and their families for who they are. When my youngest daughter, Noe, nished her nal year of school I decided to follow my dream, learning more about creating access, respect and equity in other cultures.JThe comments and criticism I received from other parents around abandoning my year old child provoked feelings of guilt in me, but my intuition convinced me that my decision suited both me and my family.Think globally, act locally, respond personally.Kate Birch Every day I see parents making decisions, which are right for them and their families. I also observe the conict experienced by parents who do not feel confident making decisions. There are many choices to make and the days of trying to control another human being are over for me, that is. A growing number of parents in the Byron Shire, who have attended P5 groups, are also feeling the relief of being able to let go and allow other people, especially their children, condently take charge of themselves.P5 is a process rstly for the participant and when the process supports that person in feeling more confident, respectful, loving and trusting towards him or herself, he or she will be able to facilitate the process for others. The results can be that from a very early age children see the parent condently setting boundaries necessary to fulfil their own needs. The children role model and learn to respect, love and trust themselves and condently let go of the safe emotional security provided by their family. The parent may ask Is that what I want for my child Well, yes, but isnt it also my job as a parent to keep them safe, well nourished and provide the best education I can for them It is beliefs like this that can sometimes get in the way of allowing our children the space to respond to what their own feelings are telling them. For example, the condence and trust in listening to what their own body feeling is telling them. I believe strongly in the theory of Attachment Parenting, which is widelypracticed in our shire and supported by the Australian Association of Infant Mental Health. However, many of us as adults are still attached to beliefs and practices handed down from our own parents, which do not serve us. The process used in P5 is a follow-up to attachment parenting. P5 offers you the skills in providing a safe emotional playground allowing you and the children to have a go, make mistakes, take abreak and have another go. P5 is a skill-based system versus the fear-based system of power and revenge, which was the method many of our parents used. The use of a fear-based system of parenting can result in children growing up to have very little condence in themselves, or believing it is their job to control everyone around them, using what ever method it takes to show their power. The results of a fear-based system is well explained inRobin Grilles book, Parenting for a Peaceful World. Kate Birch, designer of the skill-based system of P5, is releasing her updated book, Pleasurable Parenting, at a launch proudly hosted by C.A.R.E. Parent Support Program. see adjacent information. For further information or bookings to attend either the book launch or P5 parenting groups, contact me, So, on or email nsw.gov.au
