Parenting children through their childhood challenges can be difficult at times—especially for parents of military kids because of the constant transitions they undergo. Even those without children can learn a lot about resilience by noticing how a child responds to adversity. Join Family Advocacy Specialist, Lisa Driver, a licensed clinical social worker in the Seventeenth District in Ketchikan, Alaska, and Chaplain Brandt Peacock, a lieutenant from Kodiak, Alaska, who will share perspectives of adversity and resilience from a child’s point-of-view. The discussion will be held today at 3 p.m. EDT on CVR Teams.
The pair plans to explain reasons why parents must first practice self-care and use available resources to make sure they show up more powerfully for their children. “We hope to normalize the fact that it’s okay not to be perfect as a parent,” said Driver. “As a parent, taking care of yourself makes it so that you can take better care of your child.”
Driver and Peacock will also encourage parents to seek them out as resources for referrals, or for just listening ears. Driver herself remembers what it felt like to constantly adjust herself to new, short-term circumstances as a military kid and a self-described, “military brat.”
“It’s just a conversation,” she ensured. “Many people are fearful of talking to us about the challenges they are having as a parent but we are here for them.”
Participants will be reminded that there is not a perfect way to parent and that they do sometimes lose their tempers. “Just know that that’s normal and that our children, military children in particular, are resilient. They love deeply and intensely and then they pack it up and move but they have learned to embrace and grab every minute of that experience, and that’s resiliency.”
Please use this link to attend Wellness Wednesday from your Coast Guard computer, personal computer or mobile device. Even if you do not have a CVR.mil account, you can still watch the stream via the link above. If you wish to maintain anonymity, log out of your normal (USCG/DOD) CVR account and join as a guest. You may also call (571) 388-3904; Conference ID 453 387 852#.
Resources:
Parenting Resources from the Office of Work life
Morale Well-being and Recreation
Chaplain Support
Ombudsman Program
CG SUPRT