FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 5, 2007

Parents: Give the Gift of Support This Valentine's Day

As Valentine's Day approaches, most couple's thoughts turn to flowers, candy and perhaps a nice dinner out. For harried parents, however, Valentine's Day may be the best time to slow down, take stock of your relationship and reflect on how they share the joys and hardships of parenting.

"Every parent is different and there's a good chance that no two parents will always see eye to eye about raising children," said Barbara Austin, Triple P – Positive Parenting Program Training Coordinator for Dorchester County. "Working as a team to support each other can also be challenging, as parents try to juggle demands of work, maintaining a household, caring for children, and taking care of themselves as well."

Here are some tips from Dr. Matthew Sanders, founder of the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, for helping to make parenting teams stronger.

• Take care of your relationship. Every day, say something caring and positive to each other. Use words to communicate affection and respect.


• Focus on what you do, not what your partner does. Take responsibility for your own actions and try not to fall into the trap of blaming your spouse when things go wrong.


• Share the job of parenting. Take turns with daily activities related to your children.


• Talk with your partner every day about your child. This can be a brief conversation. Be sure to share things that went well, as well as things that may not have gone so well.


• Support each other when problem behaviors occur.


• Be alert to how you work to solve problems. This may be best to discuss problems when you are both calm, and away from the children. Be sure to follow up with each other—did your ideas about solving problems work? Do you need to go back to the drawing board?

"If unhappiness or conflict continues between parents or caregivers, they should be prepared to seek the advice of a professional," Austin concluded.

The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program helps build positive behaviors in children, confidence in parents' abilities, and community support for raising children. Triple P is available in Dorchester County. For more information about Triple P and to find local providers, visit their Web site at http://www.tpinfo.sc.edu or call 1-877-KIDZWIN.

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Contact:

Candace Chellew
Communications Coordinator
Building Connections
803 978 7407
chellew@gwm.sc.edu