I am often asked if my young preschooler can read because I’m a teacher, and if my toddler speaks prolifically because my profession is early childhood education. Also, I’m often asked if I think I’m a better parent than people who aren’t teachers.
Um, no. Emphatically no.
My children were born with the gifts they were given and I have had the good fortune to be able to expose them to things and play with them in ways that nourished the growth of those gifts, but am I a better parent? Hardly. It’s a heck of a lot easier with a group of 20 kids that aren’t yours than with one or two that you sprung from your loins. I have the same struggles as every other mother on the planet. I have moments when I’m very proud of my parenting, and moments when I call myself “Yelly Mom” and find myself apologizing and feeling like a big turd.
I was offered a chance to review “The Breakthrough Course” online from Positive Parenting Solutions and decided to give it a shot, though I’ve never much liked any of the other courses I’ve tried. Anything’s worth a shot when it comes to my children.
And this course? I love it.
It is a “One of a kind, Web 2.0 format online parenting course that teaches parents how to correct misbehaviors in children ages 1-17. The misbehaviors addressed include not listening, backtalk, temper tantrums, dawdling, sibling rivalry, power struggles, the terrible two behaviors and much more.”
It teaches parents “WHY children misbehave, how their own personality plays a role in the misbehaviors and how many “intuitive” strategies (such as “time out”) that parents typically use make behaviors worse. Parents…learn over 20 tools to address misbehaviors in the moment and how to correct the behaviors permanently. Parents report how the misbehaviors begin to disappear almost immediately after implementing the first tool in the Tool Box.
The online course can be accessed 24/7 and is delivered via 42 high quality, HD videos broken down into easy to follow and understand sessions supported by a printable guide. Additional information is provided via supplemental readings and easy and fun interactive learning experiences. Parents rave how their lives are changed dramatically because their relationship with their children is improved, their stress is reduced and their relationship with their spouse has improved.”
That’s what Amy McCready, the founder of Positive Parenting Solutions Inc, says about the course, and I can completely authenticate her claims. The videos aren’t too long and Amy is a great teacher – very easy to listen to and not at all pretentious. I captured some of my faves with flashgot (one of my favourite Firefox add ons) so I can watch them again when I need a little parenting kick in the pants. It would never have occurred to me to pay to take an online parenting course when there’s so much out there for free, but this course is worth every penny of the $199 enrollment fee. It’s full of time-tested techniques that go against the grain of some popular “knowledge” (time-out, anyone?) and each video you watch or exercise you do will give you something you can use right away to make your life and your child’s life easier and more positive. There are also interactive learning modules to allow you to practice what you’ve learned, supplemental readings, tons of FAQ’s at your fingertips and free (FREE!) email and phone support from Amy herself. The weekly emails are awesome pearls of wisdom, but more than that they were a great reminder to me to stay on track, watch the next video and be a better mom.
I’m lucky to have children without major behavioural problems (but they’re totally normal – don’t get me wrong) and a great marriage (also totally normal, though) and the Breakthrough Course has made me much more aware of my parenting and co-parenting at all times throughout the day – particularly the times when I used to be “Yelly Mom.” I’m still not perfect, but I’m better thanks to Positive Parenting!
Save 10% on your enrollment with the code opinionated.
The first 20 that enroll using that discount code will be upgraded to lifetime access for free. Just choose one of the four payment/access options other than the “lifetime” option and Amy will upgrade it to lifetime manually.
Win it! We’re giving away 1 free lifetime enrollment in The Breakthrough Course (valued at $225) to one T.O.P. reader. To enter, just leave a comment on this post before noon mst on October 16, 2009.
CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED – Congratulations Susan!
