By Raquel Diaz/reporter
Many parents were searching for the answer to the question “Are your kids driving you crazy?” when they attended the Parents Helping Parents club meeting Nov. 5.
The South Campus student club promotes trips, outings and field trips to museums for TCC student parents.
Focusing on strengthening and building strong and healthy relationships between parents and their children, Kimberly Lawrence of Catholic Charities in Fort Worth gave special parenting skills and tips.
For parents of a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Lawrence offered a few ways to help calm and soothe the child without the use of medicine. One of the biggest ways a parent can prevent hyperactivity, she said, is to focus on the nutrition of the child.
Wellness is not just the state of being emotionally and physically healthy, Lawrence said. It is an active process of becoming aware of making choices toward a healthy lifestyle. People must be active to create change in their busy lives, she said.
Participants completed a wellness questionnaire about nutrition. Many members were not pleased with their final scores, wondered how to fix the problems to get back on track but said they don’t have anybody to help them reach their goals.
Another major focus for the parents was the importance of a support system because having one affects a person’s life, Lawrence said.
“A support system should both motivate and challenge a person,” she said.
Lawrence told students to choose wisely whom they consider a good and reliable support system.
“Choose a person you have invested a lot of time in and trust with your life,” she said.
Balance is key for healthy social wellness, Lawrence said. Students should balance friends into a busy and stressful life.
Club vice president Samantha Mattson agreed.
“A stay-at-home mom who stays home with a 3-year-old all day needs an adult to talk to,” she said. “It keeps her sane. Do not neglect friends, especially if they want to help.”
The anchor of the meeting was physical wellness with “Keep it simple” as the motto.
Lawrence said the four steps to a healthy physical life include eating real food, getting fresh air and sunshine, running around and going to bed early.
“You model for your kids, so mean what you say,” she said.
Parents should monitor trans fat, salt and high fructose corn syrup when feeding children, Lawrence said.
“Read the labels,” she said. “If a product has more than 12 ingredients in it, it’s probably highly processed food that you don’t want to eat.”
The next meeting will be 5:30 p.m. Nov. 19 in the SSTU Texas Room on South Campus. Children and friends are welcome.
The club also offers volunteer hours with various clothing drives and potlucks.
