Many years ago when I had 4 children ages 6 and under, I became very discouraged and felt sure I was going to ruin all of them! I felt like a never-ending nag, a police officer patrolling my home looking for lawbreakers. Then my mother-in-law introduced me to the book Positive Discipline by Jane Nelsen. A wonderful book, but I learn best by experiencing...which is where Debbie Godfrey’s Positive Parenting classes came in. My husband and I signed up for her classes, and we were not disappointed. Her ability to teach and help struggling parents was (and is!) amazing. She helped us learn positive, respectful (kind but firm) ways to stop power struggles, nagging, and other negative parenting behaviors. I was able to stop being the enforcer of the law and instead let “the law” (natural and logical consequences) be the enforcer, allowing me to be a more relaxed and calm mother. Instead of opposing my children so much, I learned how to be on their side and work together with them to create expectations that made our home a much happier place. I will forever be grateful to Debbie for her influence on me, my husband, and, indirectly but powerfully, on our children.

The Positive Parenting class with Debbie Godfrey was truly such an insightful and rewarding experience. With a 3-year-old boy, a 2-year-old girl, and another on the way, I wanted to make sure my parenting "toolbox" was full before embarking on this journey with three littles. I have a master's degree in early childhood education, so as a new parent, I was quite confident in my abilities. I soon learned that no matter how much I thought I knew, in a stressful moment with two toddlers, life is real, and tools are needed to redirect behavior.

The Positive Parenting techniques are empowering for parents and children, alike. I have learned how to be in control of my own behavior and my reactions towards my children. My children, in turn, are less anxious, feel more powerful, and are more genuinely connected to their parents. They are starting to articulate how they are feeling before engaging in conflicting behaviors with each other. They are more responsive to our requests of them, and they are eager to help around our home. But, most importantly, our home is much more peaceful, and we enjoy being together. I cannot recommend this class enough. I look forward to re-reading the material and continuing to practice these invaluable techniques as our family grows.

We absolutely loved this course and have implemented its teachings into our daily life with great success. Working with Debbie to establish a positive approach to parenting our two young children was not just incredibly informative but also fun and revealing. The course has been invaluable to our family and we're thankful every day that we took the time to equip ourselves with tools for a happy and healthy family.