Description

Imagine family conversations that stay calm, where your kids actually stay engaged, and where you feel confident navigating tough moments without arguing, bribing, or threatening. Imagine recurring struggles—homework battles, chores, sibling conflict—finally softening so you can enjoy your family more and feel at peace in your home.  If you want a kinder, clearer, and more effective way to parent in any situation, Let’s Talk Parenting will show you a way.

Over an 8-week period, Over 8 weeks, you’ll practice a communication approach rooted in clarity, empathy, and genuine connection. You’ll discover a way to:

• Replace disconnecting language with words that keep conversations open
• Distinguish observations from interpretations so your kids listen rather than defend
• Express your needs clearly and expand the number of solutions available to your family
• Identify feelings with greater accuracy while avoiding “feeling-like” words that spark conflict
• Create breakthroughs by grounding each interaction in the intention to connect
• Self-empathize so you can parent from steadiness instead of overwhelm
• Listen with empathy to reduce tension and increase understanding
• Make clear, doable requests that set your family up for cooperation and success

These are tools you can use every day—with toddlers, teens, partners, and anyone in your life.

How You’ll Learn

 This series is designed for parents, grandparents, teachers, and children’s ministry leaders who want practical, real-time transformation. Sessions include:

• Engaging demos and relatable roleplays
• Puppets that make tough concepts surprisingly accessible (even skeptics love them!)
• The EmpathyMagic Tube of Communication
• The facilitator’s Road to Connection game scenarios
• Personal reflection and breakout practice on real issues from your home life
• You’ll walk away not only with new insights but with real skills you’ve already tried out in class.

Topics We’ll Explore 

• Ds of disconnection
• Observations & staying in dialogue
• Understanding each other deeply with needs
• The value of feelings (without thoughts)
• Checking in around our intention
• The clarifying power of self-empathy
• The transformative power of empathy
• Making requests that move us forward together

Materials Included

You’ll receive all course worksheets plus an OFNR (Observation–Feelings–Needs–Requests) pocket card and OFNR Floor Card set to support your learning at home.

Facilitator: Elke Haggerty, LL.M., MBA
CNVC Certified Trainer & CALF Certified NVC Trainer