APSGO Parenting Blog
By Sue Kranz When a teen goes to jail, it’s possible to feel grief and guilt and relief all at the same time. I’ve been through this, and this is how it was for me. A friend is going through this now, and given her son’s age and the violence of the crime (he’s 16), she refused to pick him up at the police station when he was arrested and refused to post bail, despite the best efforts of the police and social workers to guilt her into it. Acting as a surety is tricky business. You are promising the […]
COACHES CORNER The APSGO board is pleased to continue Coaches Corner to introduce and acknowledge our dedicated parent coaches. Our coaches work tirelessly with parents, often after receiving that very same help from their predecessors. If you are a coach, please consider writing to mail@apsgo.ca about your experiences so we can acknowledge you! We can send you a list of prompting questions. Featuring Andrea M. – Toronto Central Chapter I began attending parent support group meetings over ten years ago. I had been struggling to deal with my older son’s school avoidance and computer overuse. As many people do, I turned to Dr. Google. One day, […]
Spring is just around the corner and the days getting longer serve as a timely reminder of renewal and growth. APSGO’s mission is to provide support and to empower parents to effectively deal with any challenging situation. We provide resources to assist them in acquiring the skills that help themselves and their children. Spring is the opportune time to enhance our dedication to this vital mission. Group Representative Meetings The APSGO Board is committed to fostering an environment where APSGO’s life-changing philosophy thrives. We are passionate about connecting with all APSGO Chapters through their group representatives. This collaboration has been […]
by Sue Kranz In March of 2003, I discovered a parent group that saved my sanity. The group was based on Choice Theory by William Glasser, and what I learned there changed not only how I parented, but positively impacted all my other relationships. I joined the group with the hope of learning how to change my kids. Instead, I learned how to change myself – and that changed everything! The first thing I learned was that the only behaviour I could control was my own. This flew in the face of the common-sense mantra, “You have to get them […]
After the 2023 APSGO AGM on Saturday, November 25th, Sue Kranz presented a workshop for parents in attendance, discussing ‘Boundaries’ and how healthy boundaries can shape the quality of our interactions. Sue is an experienced parent coach and Choice Theory expert. The recording of the Workshop is available below:
Fall is a season of transition. As we move out of the post-COVID era with a return to freedom from restrictions and as we experience the fall season with cooler weather and turning leaves, we see a parallel with the inevitability of change and our ever-evolving journey as parents and as an organization. Chapters continue to offer Zoom meetings that allow parents the freedom to easily join without having to travel from the comforts of their homes or Cities. Zoom meetings have helped to open APSGO up to many who would not have attended otherwise. As well, some Chapters hold […]
We all know – or think we know – what boundaries are: Boundaries are rules we make for others, or that others make for us. So I made rules for my kids and called those “boundaries”. But I had no way to enforce these “boundaries”, and their success was determined by my teens’ willingness to cooperate with me. And the folly of thinking these would work became more apparent as I more closely observed whose behaviour I could actually control: mine. In the early ’60s, in his book Parent Effectiveness Training, Thomas Gordon introduced parents to I-messages: “I feel (blank) […]
The APSGO board would like to introduce some of our coaches to those of you who read our newsletter & blog. We think this is long overdue. APSGO wouldn’t be what it is today without them. Our coaches have worked tirelessly with parents, often after receiving that very same help from their predecessor’s. They committed to staying because they believe in the APSGO philosophy and that having a respectful, successful and happy relationship our children is possible, they themselves are living proof. Randy will be the first of many. We hope you like hearing his story. Without further ado, we would […]
Dear Sue, It is a rule that there are no drugs or drug paraphernalia in the house (aka marijuana, grinder, and bongs). My son seems to think the rules don’t apply to him, and so I have repeatedly confiscated and destroyed what I find. He is also engaged in risky behaviour like driving after smoking pot. I don’t want to kick him out because I can keep a closer eye on him in my house, but I cannot sit by and watch him destroy his life with drugs, and I can’t tolerate the crap laying around. Frustrated Dear Frustrated: I […]