Lets plant the seeds of freedom in our community by celebrating Peaceful Parenting Day on the third Monday of February!

Where does all this violence in the world come from?

Ironically enough, the answer has been literally under our noses, for youll find no greater imitators of life than children. Like sponges, they absorb their cultural surroundings; and like mirrors, reflect those social norms and attitudes. From the bullying environment of government schools to being spanked at home, they learn from adults that violence is a way to solve personal and societal problems.

On Peaceful Parenting Day, help end the cycle of violence by spreading awareness. Pass out fliers. Hold up signs. Remind your community that children are people, too.

Respectul Parents, Respectful Kids: 7 Keys to Turn Family Conflict into Cooperation by Sura Hart and Victoria Hodson

Beating the Devil Out of Them: Corporal Punishment in American Families and Its Effects on Children by Murray A. Straus

Radical Unschooling - A Revolution Has Begun by Dayna Martin

Hold On to Your Kids - Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers by Gordan Neufeld, Ph.D., and Gabor Mat, M.D.

Dont Do Drugs Stay Out Of School by Laurette Lynn

Real-Time Relationships - The Logic of Love by Stefan Molyneux, M.A.

Get to know local Peaceful Parents:Facebook.com/Groups/LiberateParents/

Peaceful Parenting Day! Additional Resources:

Cover Photo by Ely Rusiecki Photography

What is

PeacefulParenting

Live, Love, LiberateFor more information and to meet new friends

come join us at www.LiberateRVA.com

What is Peaceful Parenting?Peaceful parenting is a recognition and respect of the full person-hood embodied in children, and that children are rational human beings with their own emotions and preferences. There exists a huge disparity of power between parent and child; the peaceful parent recognizes this disparity, empathizes with their childs relative impotence, and admits when they have abused that power. The parents relationship to the child is voluntary insofar as the parent chooses to reproduce, whereas the child has no choice who their parents will be; recognizing this the peaceful parent strives to be the parent their child would choose had they that choice.

The peaceful parent values honesty over deception, voluntary cooperation over coercion or bribery, and accepts that children emulate the modes of interaction modeled by their parents.

As Max Planck (the German theoretical physicist who originated quantum theory) said, A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it. A world not defined by violence and cultural bigotry will be created by children who dont speak the language of force.

- John J. Durso

Spanking: hitting a child with the intention of modifying behavior.

Did you know that the effects of child abuse, such as spanking can:

Lead to a drop in I.Q. points?

Create a reduction in lifespan up to 20 years?

Lead to a 48% greater chance of contracting cancer?

Lead to massive increases in drug addiction, alcoholism, criminality, suicide, depression, anxiety, etc.?

Violence begets violence.

For more information watch Freedomain Radios Bomb in the Brain - The True Roots of Human Violence video series:

http://fdrurl.com/bib

In the same way that quitting smoking adds years to your life, its never too late to quit spanking your children. Please stop. Let go of violence, and encourage others to do the same.

I am the father of two girls, and I understand that being a parent can be challenging. It is my experience that most parents do not want to physically punish their children. Those who do mostly do so out of desperation to fix a problem in the immediate future that seems out-of-control.

Marshall Rosenberg, from his experiences of interacting with his own children, comments, You cant make your kids do anything. All you can do is make them wish they had. And then, they will make you wish you hadnt made them wish they had.

There is an alternative to punishing children. It requires a development of better communication skills, possible healing from the actions of the past, and the rebuilding of trust between child and parent. It is possible to develop an empathic-connection with your children; a connection in which everyones needs can be met in a cooperative way.

Contact our parent-councilors on our Facebook Group - Liberate Parents - to network with other parents who are also trying to develop their connection with children in peaceful, cooperative ways.

May the peace that you nurture today, blossom into the joy of your future. - Jacob Solt

A Message to Parents: Children Are People, Too.