Workshops I wish they offered!

Hubby said this is the dumbest thing I have ever written.  Then he back-tracked and said that since it is so far removed from what I usually write he would feel unfaithful if he enjoyed it.  Clever man! (with a clever friend who helped him come up with this explanation) To see the stuff I normally write, and that hubby enjoys, visit GingerTruitt.com.

Anyway, I laughed hysterically the entire time I was putting this together.  It is good to amuse yourself from time to time even if no one else appreciates the humor.  These were writing workshops offered at the Erma Bombeck Workshop and I just tweaked them a bit to make them suitable for parenting.  (For pictures and notes on the actual conference, scroll down or see the sidebar links.)

Raising your parenting IQ-
  Have you any idea how many children it takes to turn off one light in the kitchen? Your answer reflects your parenting IQ.  Many factors such as self-censorship and limited brainstorming techniques impair successful parenting.  During this session you will learn cognitive strategies and techniques to raise your parenting IQ. 
By the way, Erma Bombeck answered the question with,“ Three.  It takes one to say, “What light?” and two more to say, “I didn’t turn it on.”

How to take your parenting from amusing to amazing: Fine-tuning, tweaking, and rewriting.
  While entertaining your five year old and her friends, what do you do when it’s funny, but not funny enough?  Use some tried and true techniques such as Mood Swings, That’s Illogical, and Tabloid Teasers to take your comedy from, “Daddy, you’re embarrassing me,” to “Do we have to leave already?’

How to connect with your teens:
  Sonya and Lois have mastered the art of parenting teens.  They’ll share tips on becoming a better 2 a.m. counselor, such as the art of interviewing, selecting your subject, and choosing the right words and perfect descriptive details.

The Renegade Parent’s guide to homeschooling:
  Round up all those so-called rules you internalized about the right way to educate your children and give them a good swift kick in the pants.  Parents of all experience levels will benefit from the spirited and practical recommendations these two real world homeschoolers offer. 

Don’t tick off the grandparents: Great editing counts. 
  You’ve given birth to your children and spent sleepless nights caring for and loving them.  You’ve tackled your parenting like a professional, but when it comes to presenting yourself to the grandparents you may show a lack of expertise with seemingly innocuous departures from accepted procedures.  (Things like potty training at 28 months instead of 24.) Learn how to deal with grandparents who think they know how to raise your children better than you do. 

And for grandfathers we offer: The art of the anecdote 
   The anecdote has been the focus and building block for grandfathers as different in style and voice as Bill Cosby, Garrison Keillor, and the old guy sitting on the bench at the supermarket.  Though small in scale, the anecdote packs a punch.  Told well, these little stories, often amusing, sometimes profoundly moving, draw grandchildren in by offering illustrations of shared experience and opening a window on a moment. 

Are you SURE you want to be a parent? (some words of warning from a veteran)
  Craig, a parent for more than 25 years, will talk about the trials and tribulations of parenting.  He’ll touch on everything from finding out your children aren’t perfect to dealing with people who think they could do a better job.  He’ll even bring in a few of his children and give you a chance to critique.

Networking for mothers: how to maintain intelligent adult conversations when pregnancy has turned your brain to mush. 
  You can attend tons of parenting conferences, but how do you turn these events into fruitful gatherings where you’ve made great and lasting contacts?  We will show you how to effectively communicate who you are and what you want; what productive networking is; and the three best ways to maintain your new connections. 

Toxic feedback: How to survive and thrive throughout the parenting process.
  Every parent has a story; how some relative, co-worker, or well-meaning stranger standing behind them in the check-out line gave them “toxic” feedback that undermined their confidence and their parenting.  As a result, too many parents avoid or underutilize this powerful resource.  We will restore feedback’s good name and show you how to use feedback to parent better and be happier throughout the process.