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Horses teach Parenting Skills that LEAD to healthier relationships |
| Mantua, Ohio, Today’s rough economy and the stressors that come with it are taking a toll on families in fierce ways. Domestic violence, shaken baby syndrome, child abuse, spousal abuse, tragic family murders and more are on the rise. Learning new ways to face challenges, relieve the stresses in our lives, and maintain healthy family relationships is critical to weathering this storm.
Where can families, individuals, parents turn for clear direction? One organization is changing the way parents learn skills to deal with their daily challenges by providing a unique method of learning relationship and parenting skills. M-A-P, LLC uses horses to help parents learn new skills. Sue Thomas, President of M-A-P says, “Parents are challenged daily by their children to do their chores, or homework, or just to talk openly about what is happening in their lives. Dealing with a 1200 pound horse, learning to communicate with them provides new ways of interacting, honesty and skills. Horses, like children, will not respond to a person’s request just because of their title or power. ‘Because I said so’ won’t cut it with a horse any more than it does with your kids.” Horses cannot be coerced into complying with your requests, nor do they care if you are “the parent”. They respond to clear, consistent, and honest interactions. When a parent learns to respond in new, more effective ways to challenging situations with their children, they can create healthier home environments and relationships. Mary J. Malek, PhD and co-facilitator for LEAD workshops said, “After working with the horses, people learn what emotions, perceptions, or behaviors are holding them back from accomplishing more, building stronger relationships, and interacting more positively with loved ones.” Results experienced by participants of L-E-A-D workshops include development of a deeper self-awareness, understanding other peoples’ perceptions, and discovery of behaviors that negatively impact their children, friends, families, customers, and employees. Participants find themselves communicating more clearly and consistently, earning trust and respect from others more quickly, saying “no” when they mean “no”, and setting clear boundaries for themselves and within their relationships. After working with our horses, one client’s response was: "I realized when I was with the horse and kept the rope tight that I act the same way with my children. The workshop allowed me to step out of my super safe and conservative box to experience something I really needed in order to grow." Thomas and Malek provide the environment and opportunity for parents to take a step back, look at their children and themselves through "new eyes" and are providing “Parenting Skills from the Herd" as a way to support parents in acquiring new skills. For more information contact Sue Thomas at M-A-P, LLC, 330.274.2693 or visit www.mapotential.com |
