Today's families come in all shapes, sizes and constellations of parents and children. From the traditional with one mom and one dad, to single parent families, same sex parents, or extended family members raising orphaned or abandoned children, the one consistency threading throughout them all is that the well being of our children is directly related to the well being of their care takers. Our children come to us not only as blessings, opening our hearts to so much more love that we ever thought possible,  they also require more work on every level, physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually than we ever imagined. Parenting is without a doubt the most rewarding and the most challenging endeavor we as humans will ever undertake. Raising a whole human being from infancy to adulthood is such an awesome responsibility, that were we not propelled first by the biological imperative and protected beforehand from the awareness of it's magnitude many of us may never have had the courage to take it on. But then we would never have known that our hearts could stretch as far or hold as much love as every child pours into them.  
And just as every child deserves a loving, safe and nurturing parent, every parent deserves support to become that mature self loving mother or father

Are the relationships with your mates, friends, or your own parents, teaching your children what you want them to learn about creating healthy relationships?

2.  Would you want your children to replicate the relationship you have with their other parent?

3.  If you are a couple parenting your children together, do you treat your mate the way you would want your child to be treated when they grow up to become mates and parents?

4.  Conversely, does your mate treat you in ways you would want your child to be treated by his or her mate?

5.  Do you treat your children the way you would want them to treat their children when they become parents?

6.  Do you treat yourself the way you want your children to treat themselves when they become adults and parents?

TEACH  YOUR CHILDREN WELL

"You who are on the road
Must have a code that you can live by
And so become yourself
Because the past is just a good bye. "

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young 

 Children watch, mimic, and learn how to become by watching us be. They are the most observant beings in the world.  They miss very little in spite of the fact that half the time we assume that they either aren't paying attention or they are too young to understand what's going on.  But from the time they are born they are watching and absorbing everything about us, especially how we relate to those closest to us.  It's how they learn.  So if the answer to any of the above questions is no, if there are ways that you create relationships that you hope they don't learn, then remember that their growth and healing begin with yours.  It's never too late.  In choosing therapy you are also role modeling that it's OK to get help when you need it.  And that in itself is a gift.

Our children don't need us to be perfect; they need to see that we're constantly growing and learning and becoming more aware of our choices.  And they need to see us forgiving ourselves and each other for our imperfectly perfect humanity.  

As a therapist and couples/marriage counselor, Terry Daggett often describes her work as teaching people to fall back in love with themselves. As parents, learning to love ourselves and our mates in ways that are both generous and compassionate not only pave the way for our own happiness but for our children and our children's children as well. Learning to love ourselves is probably the single most responsible and loving gift we can give to our children and to the future generations that follow.

Terry is the grateful mother of two wonderful grown children, a 35 year old son and 29 year old daughter, both of whom she considers to be her greatest teachers, and the constant inspiration for her own continued growth, spiritual evolution, and ever expanding sense of humor about herself.  

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE

It takes a village AND and the courage to ask for help to raise a child. Give parents the gift of becoming happier people and more loving parents for their children

Gift Certificates available.  Call Terry at 541-788-2385