When you watch a warm, loving, touching film, how do you feel after?
When you watch a violent film, how do you feel?
When you watch a horror flick, what emotions do you experience?

I don't want to suggest any possible answers to these questions for you. But do mull over them. And then, reflect on this:

1. What we're exposed to, we experience.
2. What we experience strongly shapes our view of the world.
3. What we experience regularly, we tend to become immune to, or damaged by.

As with Leanne's parents, we've got to be prepared to forgive ourselves for not knowing how to do all this parenting stuff. And we've got to get real in realizing that we don't know every detail of our child's life, day, dreams, fears, hopes or feelings; we oughtn't. We have to learn to trust an awful lot. And to trust in gut-wrenching ways that a non-parent will probably find impossible to ever really feel.

We've unknowingly signed up for a heck of a bumpy ride, us parents have. There's a lot more going on 'out there' in each of our child's life than we know, or perhaps want to know! Frustration abounds! For parents and children alike.

But, still, the alternative to knowing - giving up on our children by turning a blind eye and a deaf ear in order to avoid the frustration - is an option taken up regularly only by seriously-in-trouble parents.

Not you. Yes?

I'm inviting all readers to come along to a Parenting Workshop in Blarney next Saturday. It's designed for parents of Primary School-age children, as well as any adults that work with or spend time with under-thirteens.

We'll be covering topics such as bullying, fighting, TV and Internet. As funding for the Workshop has been secured through Avondhu Development Group Ltd., there is no cover charge for the four-hour Workshop, although people who have booked (call me on 087 – 75 06 771) will be given seating preference.

Arrive at the reception desk of the Blarney Woollen Mills Hotel a bit before ten a.m. on Saturday (15th). Tea/coffee and biscuits will be served, and the Workshop is due to finish at 2pm.

Dan Arnold helps parents through their parenting challenges on a 1-to-1 basis. He also presents Talks, Workshops and Seminars on Parenting to Schools, Groups and Companies. Dan can be contacted on 087 – 7506 771, or at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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