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Good parenting requires sacrifice. Childhood lasts for only a few brief years , but it should be given priority while it is passing before your eyes

The quickest way to change your child’s behaviour is to first change your own.

Adolescence can be the cruelest place on earth. It can really be heartless.  ( Tori Amos)

It is what we say and do when we're angry that creates the very model our children will follow when dealing with their own frustrations.

The mistake that Sharon and I both made is we never set any boundaries.  (Ozzy Osbourne)

Setting limits teaches your children valuable skills they will use the rest of their lives. One day, they will report to a job where their ability to follow rules will dictate their success.

"Rules without relationship leads to rebellion" (Josh McDowell)

"Unexpressed feeling never die. They are buried alive and come back later in ugly ways." (Stephen Covey)

The challenge of adolescence is to balance the right of the parents to feel they are in charge with the need of the adolescent to gain independence.

Parenting style matters - a lot!

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Suicide Threats – Do’s & Don’ts

DO’S & DON’TS WITH A SUICIDE THREAT
DO:
                  1. stay calm
                  2. talk to him         – listen
                                                      – don’t try to “talk” him out of how he is feeling
                                                      – don’t try to cheer him up
                                                      – show concern
                                                      – reassure person you know how to get    help
                                                      – ascertain how well thought out the plans are (fleeting thoughts of suicide are
                                                                                       common – well thought out plans need to be taken seriously)
                  3. get mental health help
                  4. have someone with the young person at all times
                  5. remove dangerous items
 
 
DON’T:
                  1. assume the person is “just trying to get attention”
                  2. promise that you won’t tell anyone
                  3. tell the person how to feel
                  4. try to argue someone out of feeling suicidal
                  5. say “that’s dumb” or “snap out of it”
                  6. challenge the person to “go ahead and do it”
 
Attempts frequently occur after a conflict or stressful event
– these events do not cause an attempt
– they make teen more vulnerable
 
An attempt can be a “turning point”
(an opportunity for change)

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Workshops

+ Behaviour Management (now available online)

This full day or 2 evening workshop will introduce you […]

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+ A Parent’s Guide to the Teenage Brain

  A teenager’s brain is not just an adult brain […]

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+ Reading Rescue

A program for children with reading problems

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+ A Guided Tour of ADHD (now available online)

This workshop will present the facts, myths, misconceptions, controversy and […]

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Contact

2720 Rath Street, Putnam, Ontario
NOL 2BO

Phone: (519) 485-4678
Fax: (519) 485-0281

Email: info@rickharper.ca

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Parents' Comments

“We are foster parents who took in a 13 year old girl (going on 18!) and she ran us through the wringer. Rick helped us learn how to set limits that made the difference.”

(G.E. – Strathroy)