Meeting Tonight!

Meeting Tonight, Thursday April 21

location: Mississippi Breastfeeding Clinic in Madison (Thanks Dr. Saenz!)

time: 6:00

topics:

Nonviolent Communication

"The ability to keep observation and evaluation separate is the highest form of human intelligence." ~Jiddhu Krishnamurti

and Handling Criticism/AP in a Non-AP World

"Me, I adopt the Cheerfully Obtuse attitude. I completely misunderstand what they're saying; the implied criticisms go right ... over ... my head. Sometimes, if I'm feeling froggy, I get confused and ask them to explain themselves. I generally follow this with a bemused smile and a polite comment that implies that I had no idea people still thought the earth was flat. Oh, sure, it's a little passive-aggressive. But since I acquired a toddler, I really don't have the energy for the more confrontational approach that I would have taken in my feckless youth." ~Pamela Williams-Smith, co-leader of API of Tallahassee, FL

Next Meeting, Coming Up!

Thursday, April 21, 6:00pm
Location: MS Breastfeeding Clinic in Madison
Topics: Dealing with Criticism (of your parenting choices), and NVC (Non-violent Communication, aka Compassionate Communication)

Many people who choose to parent with an AP frame of mind unfortunately encounter frequent criticism, sometimes very harsh, from strangers and even friends and family. This meeting will be about dealing with this in a loving, non-defensive way. We will be talking about how to use NVC in our responses to others who may question or criticize our "methods."

Meeting Tomorrow!

A [Gershoff, 2002] meta-analysis on the use of corporal punishment done at Columbia University indicates that parental corporal punishment is associated with the following undesirable behaviors and experiences:

~Decreased moral internalization

~Increased child aggression

~Increased child delinquent and antisocial behavior

~Decreased quality of relationship between parent and child

~Decreased child mental health

~Increased risk of being a victim of physical abuse

~Increased adult aggression

~Increased adult criminal and antisocial behavior

~Decreased adult mental health

~Increased risk of abusing own child or spouse

Corporal punishment was associated with only one desirable behavior: increased immediate compliance.

"The universal and chronic use of corporal punishment and its potentially harmful effects on children is the best-kept secret of American child psychology" (Straus, Beating the Devil Out of Them, 10).

If you are interested in breaking the cycle, this meeting is for you. Come get help and be supported!

Tomorrow, 10am @ The Play Place

Next Meeting, Time and Place

Thursday, April 7

10:00am @ The Play Place in Madison/Ridgeland on Hwy 51

Topics: "The Great Divide": Choosing AP when others begin baby training

Positive Discipline: How we can apply it TODAY, and "See one, Teach one, Do one"