International Parenting Commitment Day - March 20

The 10 Commitments | Parenting Resolutions | Commitment Celebrations/Rituals
Committed Parent of the Month | Arranging a Parenting Workshop
Organizing a Book Study | Parenting Newsletter

Commitment Celebrations/Rituals

The mission of International Parenting Commitment Day is to assist parents throughout the world to commit or recommit to the sacred and important role of parenting so they can uplift, encourage, and inspire children to become responsible, caring, confident people.

JOIN MILLIONS OF PARENTS AROUND THE WORLD WHO ARE MAKING THE COMMITMENT TO PARENT WITH PURPOSE.

To celebrate International Parenting Commitment Day with your family, consider implementing one of the following celebrations/rituals. Use this special day to reconnect with your children, celebrate your mutual caring, and highlight the positive regard in which you hold the sacred role of parenting.

Pledge Night

Convene a family meeting. Propose that the family design a pledge that reflects your belief that feelings of oneness and a sense of belonging are important in your family.
Include language that acknowledges the value you place on putting family first, honoring each other’s uniqueness, and providing a secure family structure.

Allow all family members to have input by inviting suggestions and reaching a mutual consensus on the pledge. Display your pledge prominently in your home.

Principles of Work

Create a poster to display at your worksite. Include beliefs you have about how you want to BE during your work time. Include items such as: Treat others with respect; Listen to others’ ideas; Encourage others; Keep confidences private. Put at least 10 items on your Principles of Work poster. At the top add, SUCCEED AT HOME FIRST. Share your work principles with your family.

Goal-Setting Evening

After your children are in bed for the evening, set some family goals with your spouse. For each goal you choose, list activities you can do that will help you move in the direction of accomplishing that goal.

Example:

Goal: Use self-responsible language with our children.

Activities:

1.) Eliminate the words “makes me” from our language patterns. Change “You make me mad” to “I’m feeling angry about this.”

2.) Use the words “choose/decide/pick” over and over with our children. Say such things as, “I see you chose to help your brother” and “If you choose to throw the toy you will be choosing to give it a rest on the shelf for a while.”

3.) Stop “shoulding” on our children. We intend to replace our “shoulds” with “coulds.”

Up in Flames

Write several parenting concerns that have troubled you recently on napkins.
Also fill the napkins with parenting stressors?situations that you create
stress around with your children (loud radios, poor table manners, etc.). Place
the napkins in a fireplace or metal container. Say a prayer asking God to
take your stress and concerns and handle them in a way that achieves the
greatest good for all concerned. Communicate your desire to be free of stress. Take
a few deep breaths. Light the napkins and watch your concerns and your
stress go up in smoke. Watch as the smoke carries your problems away. Feel lighter
after having let go of all that stress.

Warm-Fuzzy Clothesline

A “warm-fuzzy” is a compliment (written or verbal) that is given to another person. Why not begin a warm-fuzzy clothesline in your home? Have each family member decorate clothespins in their own image and write their names on them. Hang them on a clothesline that you place in a prominent spot in your home (kitchen or den wall). Use the clothespins as mini-mailboxes to share notes of encouragement, affirmation, and praise with one another. Model this technique by sending at least one a day yourself.

Your Own Creation

Design a ritual of your own, one that meets the specific needs of your family. Use it to celebrate this important day with your family. Share it with us at ipp57@aol.com.

Thomas Haller and Chick Moorman