Happy Mother’s Day to all of you who are mothers and to everyone who has a positive impact on a child’s life!

This month I celebrate that I have been a Mom for 22 years. Wow! What a journey it has been. My youngest child Chloe is 6 years old so my journey will continue for a long time. When I started out, with our twins, Michael and Taylor, I embraced all of the anxieties which be-fit a new mom. Now as I reflect, I see how much I have learned and grown as a parent. There have been difficult times as well as so many wonderful moments. Each experience, big and small, has taught me so much and deepened my relationship with each of my six children.

Here are some of my Effective Positive Parenting Strategies which you can start using today!

Be a United Front to your Children
It is essential that you and your partner provide a united front to your child. You do not serve your child well if there is ambiguity or inconsistent enforcement of rules. Discussions about your parenting approaches should be with your partner and in private. Recognize that both of your intentions are to do a good job, you just may have different perspectives. Reflect on your own goals and expectations. Listen to each other’s reasoning. Be willing to work towards a good compromise that will be in your child’s best interest.

Recognize that your Parenting Role changes
You have a life long bond with your child. The relationship is always parent-child but your role as a parent evolves as your child develops. At first, parents are their children’s teachers. They do a lot of nurturing and there is a need for a strong physical connection – feeding, rocking, helping to walk, doing physical activities, and playing. In the second phase your child is able to gain knowledge independently, they develop interests in particular areas and they begin to create social groups. They rely on their parents to manage their schedules. As your child becomes a teenager, our role changes to one of a coach. We work with our teens to take over the responsibility for their schedule and activities so that we can focus on bigger things like curfews, driving, on-going education and relationships. This last transition is often the hardest for parents. Throughout these stages, our role changes with emphasis on different parenting skills.

Be clear on your Standards
What values do you want to instill in your child? What Standards must be upheld? Be clear with yourself on what is and is not negotiable. Follow through on your word. Lead by example. Are you keeping your commitments? Are you telling the truth? Are you keeping your cool? Walk the Talk! Have confidence in yourself as a parent. The more confident you are, the easier it is to provide consistency. Know that you are doing your best.

Communicate Effectively
Listening is the key to understanding your child’s reality more deeply. It boosts their self worth and confidence and it encourages them to share their lives with you. Listen in a non-judgmental way – do not react, be really open-minded. Listen to understand what lies beneath their words. Keep it short and simple to avoid confusion or tuning out. Balance your communication between requests, teaching, appreciation and acknowledgements.

You may not be able to control your child’s emotional nature, but you are entirely in control of how you choose to respond to it! Our words have the power to: motivate, support and teach as well as to hurt, tear down and abuse. The worst thing that you can do is to tell children, by your words or deeds, that you have given up on them (e.g. I can’t take this anymore). Increase your awareness and consciousness of how you use your words as well as your delivery. Let your love, respect and compassion shine through.

Promote Responsibility and Independence
What do you choose: To follow your children through life doing everything for them and cleaning up after their mistakes or to teach them the life skills and tools to do so themselves?

Responsibility and independence happens over time. A young child can share in the responsibility of such activities as tidying up, setting the table, washing the pots, folding clothes and cleaning up their toys after bath time. As your child grows older they can share in such activities are the laundry, shopping for groceries, keeping the car clean, and managing their money. Teach your children how to be responsible for their belongings, how to cook, use a map, use public transportation, and to make sound decisions. Be prepared for lots of trial and error. Teach your child to accept and learn from success and failure. What a great foundation you are providing for your child’s adult life!

“The art of mothering is to teach the art of living to children”
-- Elaine Heffner

Do you have Pre-Teens and/or Teenagers? Are you looking for ways to find true connection with them? Do you want to be the best parent you can be?

I am pleased to offer to you my Positive Parent-Teen Relationships workshop.

Learn How to:

• Embrace our Changing Roles as Parents
• Strengthen Who are you as a Parent
• Set Standards, Practice Consistency and Fairness
• Communicate Effectively - Listening and Speaking
• Resolve Conflicts
• Be Involved in their lives
• Promote Responsibility and Independence … and so much more!

Special Price: $ 25 (incl. GST)

• What a great opportunity to develop your Parenting Skills!
• It is never too early or too late to learn.
• Learn from Eva-Marie and each other.
• I am here to help you and your family. You are worth it!

Date: Monday June 9, 2008 - 7 – 9 pm @ Humber Valley United Church (more details on website)

Click here to sign up!

I also offer private Parenting Coaching for parents of children of all ages.

Mother’s Day: Give the gift of Life Coaching. Your mom deserves to realize her dreams and to live an enriched life! Gift Certificates – to fit all budgets - wrapped and ready to give to your loving Mom / Wife.

Call me today at 416-237-1986 or email me at evamarie@gemlifecoaching.com.

If you are still not sure if Life Coaching is for you, please call or email me to set up a complimentary, no obligation coaching session. This 30 minute phone call will give you a taste of life coaching with Eva-Marie and it will help you to decide how it could work for you.

Here is your chance to be one of GEM's wonderful Success Stories!

Click here to read more on
GEM Life Coaching and Consulting’s Services and Workshops.

Every day I am inspired by my mother, Joan Simone.

My mom is an amazing person who has devoted her life to helping others. She has raised her own 13 children and she continues to help us to raise her 33 grandchildren. She is also committed to feeding poor people all over the world. My mom has received many awards and accolades for all that she has so lovingly and selflessly contributed. Among these are: Doctor of Sacred Letters (U of T), The Papal Cross, The International Order of St. Anthony of Padova and The Order of Canada.

In addition to this, I respect my mom for the brilliant, loving, nurturing, graceful, compassionate person that she is. I feel infinitely grateful that I was born into my family. Everyday we know that we are unconditionally loved by her. As the eldest daughter (third of the thirteen), it has been such a gift to witness my mom parenting my siblings. I also appreciate the little things I have learned along the way, such as: When your child asks for a hug, stop whatever you are doing and hug them, in every hour there will be at least ten minutes of chaos – count on it, deeply love your spouse, say Thank You often, be patient, love unconditionally, really listen to other people, you don’t always have to give advice, put yourself in another’s shoes, material things just don’t matter, smile, take care of your health and good laugh benefits everyone!

As we approach Mother’s Day, may I suggest a truly meaningful gift for your Mother. A few years ago for Mothers Day we created a box of notes to our Mom. We shared our feelings, memories, stories, and how she has inspired us. We had the opportunity to express our gratitude and to acknowledge the impact our Mom has had on our lives. These are things our Mom may not have heard before. Her magnificent impact ripples though each one of us, to our spouses, to our children and to everyone with whom we interact. Thank you Mom. I love you so very much.