Lunch and Learn parenting sessions getting top marks

  • Published
  • By Nick Stubbs
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MacDill AFB, Fla --  It's not unusual to leave from lunch with a full feeling, but parents who attend Lunch and Learn sessions held by the MacDill Child Development Center find they are leaving full of new and helpful information about coping with military family life. 

They are presented by professional military life consultants, who have been coaching parents since April at MacDill - and the report card is in.

"It's been great and parents have been learning a lot," said Gail Mouse, director of CDC 1. "They come with their questions and they get them answered, which is the idea."
The first session was on coping with deployment and separation, perhaps the most important issue military families face, said Ms. Mouse.

"Since then the session topics have been parent-driven," said Ms. Mouse. "Through their input and discussions, they decide the direction."

That direction will take parents to the July 30 session, to be held at the Youth Center at noon. The topic is "Effective Communication and Parenting," and it will go beyond just a lecture, said Ms. Mouse. The session is open to any parent with children enrolled in MacDill youth programs.

There will be parent interactivity to learn the techniques of effective parenting, communicating with children and discipline strategies designed for effectiveness.

"Kids don't come with instruction manuals," said Ms. Mouse. "These sessions are great for getting the information out there, and everyone seems to be learning and enjoying themselves."

Examples of recent sessions include lessons in "guidance" and discipline strategies.

The counselors presenting the sessions are rotated every six weeks. They are on base regularly during their rotations, and also are available for "one-on-one" counseling sessions for parents that need it, said Ms. Mouse.

"The idea is to give them (parents) the tools they need to be effective parents," said Ms. Mouse regarding the upcoming session.

The next Lunch and Learn is July 30. For more information on attending, call the CDC at 828-5195.