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Global Calgary Morning News - Calgary’s Child: Kitty Raymond

Posted October 25, 2011

Mon, Oct 24 - Potty training tips from pediatric behavioral specialist Kitty Raymond

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Slow Parenting - Let’s Take a Look

Posted September 18, 2011

"Leisure" by W. H. Davies
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

 

All my adult life I've been attracted to the concepts of slowing down, the practice of voluntary simplicity, protecting thinking time and understanding the value of daydreaming.  My daily life, however, inevitably speeds up the moment I look the other way.I often am attracted to and sometimes very excited by fast food, fast money, fast travel ("A weekend in Madrid!"), etc. I want my computer connection to be fast; I have an iphone; when I want to be entertained I expect to download the right movie right NOW and if we want to barbeque frozen steaks tonight I need them to THAW IMMEDIATELY on the correct microwave setting.

 

Still, I always come back to the appeal of slow.  The Slow Food Movement has great appeal for it's many followers and practitioners and I've recently become aware of the Slow Home Movement , right here in Calgary - can't wait to go! , and the Slow Movement which covers travel, cities, books, food and money.

 

Since 1983 when I founded the Infant Resource Center which is now Raymond Parenting, I have watched children's lives speed up.  Babies now  spend a lot of time in their carseat, driving to Gymborie, music or swim classes.  I see toddlers joining playgroups or registered early for preschool so they can hurry to become better socialized. There are baby jogging groups, baby yoga groups and pottery classes for 3 year olds. Occasionally, I hear from a parent who feels she has a discipline problem because her 2.5  year old wants to grab the musical instruments instead of waiting for her turn in music class.  I know there are four an five year olds playing soccer and parents who say "But he loves it!"

It is not my intention to lecture or chastise parents who are simply following the parenting styles of all the other parents they know.  Who wants to have the only child who hasn't learned to skate or swim by age four?  Who wants to stay home with a bored child who constantly begs to go to the park."

 

In my next few blogs and on the Raymond Parenting News facebook page, I'll be quoting some of you who I hope will write with your own stories of a fast or slow childhood.  What were your experiences and how do they compare to your child's experiences right now.  How hard is it to arrange for your child's childhood to evolve more slowly.  And are you and your spouse in agreement about a philosophy of slower parenting and slower chlldhoods.  What would you like to see changed in our parenting society.

 

"Childhood: the state of being  a child." (free online dictionary)

 

Raymond Parenting Services in October

Believe it or not I'm taking October off from teaching seminars so I can "stand and stare" like the sheep and cows.  We are going to take a leisurly road trip to Vancouver Island, Nanaimo to visit our daughter, and of course we have to check out our sailboat in Sidney. Here are the Raymond Parenting dates for the next 6-8 weeks:

Email Counseling

This service is constantly available because I remain 'connected' wherever i am.  ($45. Deluxe  $25. Short Answer.  My answer comes in 2-3 days)

Telephone Counseling

I am availble for prearranged Telephone Counseling appointments on the following dates through October:

Monday, September 19 and Wednesday September 20

Monday, October 17 and Wednesday October 19

Monday, October 24 and Wednesday, October 26 

November on most Mondays and Wednesdays -- in other words, back to normal.

Seminars

Sleep from the Start (prenatal) Thursday December 1  (not held Oct. or November)

Sleep from Now On (12 lbs to 3 yrs) Tuesday November 8

Setting Healthy Limits (Discipline) Tuesday, November 15

Toilet Learning the Easy Way  Tuesday, November 22

 

 

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Got Some Hard-to-Solve Parenting Problems?

Posted August 7, 2011

A newborn who has no self-calming skills yet?  A toddler who "eats like a bird?" A child who hits and time-outs are not working? There are many variations on the parenting problems that drive parents crazy.  Whether it's frustration over siblings who fight, a child who hangs onto your leg in the kitchen or sleeping issues that threaten your family's balance and sanity...Raymond Parenting is here to help!

So that you can get the kind of parenting solutions you need - when you need them, I'm announcing some new dates today (and also a few restrictions on my availability, due to travel plans -- again!)

Telephone Counseling Appointments

• Wednesday August 10
• Monday, September 5
• Wednesday, September 7
• Monday, September 12
• Wednesday, September 14

Additional Telephone Counseling Appointments will be available again -- in November, 2011.

 

Raymond Seminars

• Sleep from the Start (prenatal)        Thursday, September 1, 2011
• Sleep from the Start (prenatal)        Thursday, December,  1, 2011
• Sleep from Now On (12 lbs.- 4 Years)   Tuesday, September 9, 2011
• Sleep from Now On (12 lbs. - 4 Years)  Tuesday, November 8, 2011
• Setting Healthy Limits (Discipline)        Tuesday, September 13, 2011
• Setting Healthy Limits (Discipline)        Tuesday, November 15, 2011
• Toilet Learning the Easy Way                Tuesday, November 22, 2011

"Ask Kitty" Email Questions---This valuable service will be available on a constant, regular basis through August, September, October, November, etc. 

• $25.00 Short Question (answered within 2-3 days)
• $45.00 Deluxe Question (more complex questions, more detailed answers (answered within 2-3 days)
  

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