Dabbs to headline 2010 Parent University
Tried talking to your teenager lately? Some adults would rather have a root canal. No matter how close you think you are, once your child hits 13, it’s as if he wakes up one day and is a totally different person for the next seven or eight years.
Today’s teenagers face unparalleled pressures and choices, and one of the hardest things for them is to share those fears with their parents.
But if parents can be there in times of pressure and show them how to make sound choices, there’s an excellent chance their kids will survive their teen years and become well-adjusted adults.
That’s the message that inspirational speaker Reggie Dabbs will bring to Lawton on Feb. 9 when he headlines “Strengthening Families,” the theme of this year’s Parent University.
A free event sponsored annually by the Lawton Public Schools, the Lawton PTA Council and other groups in the community that believe stronger families are essential to preparing future generations, Parent University is for anyone – parents, grandparents, educators, foster parents, child care providers – interested in raising responsible children.
Personal Approach.
Born to an unwed teenager who once thought abortion was a viable option for solving her “problem,” Reggie feels fortunate to be alive. With no place to go, his pregnant mother ended up living in a chicken coop in Louisiana. There she remembered a former teacher who once told her, “If you ever need anything, call me,” and gave her a home phone number. The girl called.
The teacher, Mrs. Dabbs, went to Louisiana, picked up the girl, and returned to Tennessee where she took her into her home. She and her husband cared for the girl until the baby was born and continued to raise Reggie as foster parents. When he reached the fourth grade, they adopted him.
As the Dabbs family reared Reggie, they instilled in him strong moral values and ingrained in him a notion that in every situation he faced, he had a choice – and what he did with those choices was entirely up to him.
Something Special.
Folks across the country praise Dabbs’ approach as full of energy and hope. He often speaks at school assemblies – in fact, he’ll visit eight area schools while in Lawton – and uses a humorous style to share his experiences as he advises kids about choices they must make when it comes to dating, alcohol and drug use, suicide, and other teen issues. He reminds them to be thankful for families as he drives home the fact that while no one can change their past, their choices as teens will forever shape their future.
Join Us!
Parent University begins at 6 p.m. with exhibits in Lawton’s Central Middle School auditorium. To find out more about the event, or to pre-register for free childcare, call 580-355-7727 no later than Feb. 2.
Article courtesy of Lawton Public Schools.