SUBJECT: National Office NZ Report January 2008

Carer Data base: 3569
Tena Koutou / Greetings to all and a Happy New Year!

Friendly reminder
Be sure to check your pass ports and your charges pass ports to see if they are up for renewal this year.

E Mail members
If you are used to getting this newsletter via email and now are receiving it by snail mail, it is because over the holiday break we deleted out all of you whose emails produced bounces back to us. Where there was a postal address we are using this. If you want it back on email please email us with your correct/new addy please.

Santa’s Surprise
Poppa decided to arrive dressed up as Santa on Christmas Day. Great care was taken with his costume. Watch was removed, padding was added courtesy of the local Repertory, stage make-up applied and we were convinced that our three-year old grand-daughter would not recognise him.

He arrived in our son's van, with his head sticking out of the roof, waving to all the neighbouring wide-eyed children. Presents were distributed to everyone, and all the while the three year old just stood, staring suspiciously.

Santa finally went, and then Poppa came home. When he asked if he had missed Santa while he was away, little Missy said "It was you!" "NO, said Poppa, I had to go to the shop for Nana"
"It was you" she said. I could tell by your big nose and your "piggy little eyes!"

Poppa was most upset and went around asking all and sundry if they thought he had "piggy little eyes" Awe poor Poppa.

Parents Inc Tip:
Your 10-13 year old child asks you for a cell phone - determine whether this is a need or a want. Having a cell phone should be a privilege that needs to be accompanied by responsibility.
Stage One: Let them know you are interested but would like to talk about it. Set up a meeting to discuss the pros and cons and ask some serious questions. Prior to the meeting get your child to do some research i.e. investigate costs, best rate plan, who will pay for it and talk about the possible negative influences of owning a cell phone e.g. text bullying. Depending on the outcome of this –
Stage Two: Work out a contract that includes:
Who is paying for what, parental access to phone to check history, time limits around usage e.g. switch phone off after 8pm, socially acceptable behaviour when using cell phones and the right for parents to remove access to phone if boundaries are broken.

return to top

Our Grandson
This is what happens when you are not watching! One talcum powder container, one cortically blind disabled little boy, and whole house covered in "snow"...
PRICELESS… And he even said MESS!

Rates rebates for low income home owners: VIP Information for you!
I was struck by the paper on your website that summarised Jill Worrall's report, which showed that most of the grandparents raising grandchildren were on quite low incomes, with maybe half of them on less than $30,000.
Depending on their rates bill, most of those people ought to get some rebate and many of them would get the full $500. With this in mind Iain MacLean wrote the following:

Home owners on low incomes may be entitled to a rebate of up to $500 off their council rates, but many eligible people are not applying for one. To be entitled to a rebate, a person needs to be on a low income and pay rates for the home they live in. The amount of rebate depends on a person's income, how high their rates are and how many dependants they have. The higher a person's rates, or the more dependants they have, the higher their income can be before the rebate is reduced.

Most superannuitants and beneficiaries and many employed people on low incomes would be entitled to a rebate. National Superannuation and most other Work and Income benefits are counted as income when assessing eligibility for a rates rebate. However, a number of benefits, such as the orphan's and unsupported child's benefit, disability allowance, child disability allowance, family support and most war pensions (other than veteran's pension) do not count as income for rates rebate purposes.

So, for example, a couple on Superannuation, with no other income and two dependants would probably get the full $500 rebate if their rates were $1,750 or more.

Ratepayers apply directly to their local council for a rebate for the current year. They must declare their income for the previous tax year, e.g. for the rating year 2007/08, they will need to declare their income for the year ending 31 March 2007. They must also get the application signed by an authorized person such as a council staff member, Justice of the Peace, solicitor, chartered accountant or minister of religion.
There are also some specific rules about properties that are owned by trusts that can affect a ratepayer's eligibility, and ratepayers should check these with their local council before applying.

Last year councils approved around 112,000 rebates. However, this is fewer than half of the total number of people DIA has estimated are entitled to a rebate.For more information on the scheme visit www.ratesrebates.govt.nz. To apply for a rebate contact your local city or district council. return to top

Love is
When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That’s love. (Rebecca – age 8)

Conduct Disorder – by Anthony Kane, MD
If your child has Oppositional Defiant Disorder, I am sure you have often felt that things could not get much worse. Well, in case you ever felt that way, I am going to put things in perspective for you. We are now going to discuss, Conduct Disorder.

Conduct Disorder is the most serious of all disruptive behaviour disorders in children and teens. This difficult condition affects between 1 to 4 percent of children and adolescents, is more common in boys than in girls, and occurs more frequently in cities than in rural areas. Some children may show signs of Conduct Disorder early childhood, often during the preschool years.

Conduct Disorder often is viewed as a worse version of ODD, however there are some differences. Oppositional Defiant Disorder children tend to have worse social skills than children with Conduct Disorder. Also, ODD children may be difficult and defiant, but they usually have no desire to deliberately harm others. Their difficult behaviour is more of a result of their frustration and their lack of tolerance.

Children with Conduct Disorder do intentionally cause harm to others, often for no real reason.
Their antisocial behaviour may include vandalism and theft, and these children terrorize their community.
Usually by the age of ten, these children have already been involved with illegal activities on a frequent enough basis that they have already had contact with the police.

Here is the official definition
Conduct Disorder is a repetitive and persistent pattern of behaviour in which the basic rights of others or major society rules are violated.

The diagnosis requires that at least three of the following criteria be present in the last 12 months, and at least one criterion must have been present in the last 6 months. These are:

Aggression to people and animals:
--often bullies, threatens, or intimidates others --often initiates physical fights --has used a weapon that can cause serious physical harm to others (a bat, brick, broken bottle, knife, gun) --physically cruel to animals --physically cruel to people --has stolen while confronting a victim (mugging, purse snatching, extortion, armed robbery)

Destruction of property:
--has deliberately engaged in fire setting with the intention of causing serious damage --has deliberately destroyed other's property other than by fire setting

Deceitfulness or theft
--has broken into someone else's house, building or car --often lies to obtain goods or favours or to avoid work --has stolen items of nontrivial value without confronting a victim (shoplifting, forgery)

Serious violations of rules
--often stays out at night despite parental prohibitions, beginning before 13 years of age --has run away from home overnight at least twice without returning home for a lengthy period --often skips school before age 13

The main thing that separates ODD from Conduct Disorder is the issue of danger. Oppositional Defiant Disorder children can be exasperating for everyone around them. They argue, they manipulative, they cause discord between parents, and they disrupt the lives of everyone around them. But these children are not dangerous. They do not harm others. With Conduct Disorder children, safety is a major concern. They are a threat to the body and possessions of those around them.

If your child is showing signs of Conduct Disorder I do want to leave you with some encouragement. It used to be thought that Conduct Disorder children were just in the early stages of a life long path of criminal behaviour. We know now that for most children this is not true.

Conduct Disorder children usually have multiple concurrent psychiatric problems. Most commonly these children have ADHD, but many also have Bipolar Disorder, depression, learning disorders, and anxiety disorder. These other disorders are the key to treatment.

Often when the other problems are addressed, the Conduct Disorder behaviour also improves.

This is true to such an extent, that treating concurrent disorders is the major key to breaking the path of a Conduct Disorder child to a career criminal. Therefore, if your child does have Conduct Disorder, you absolutely must find out all the other problems he has and treat them aggressively. This is another reason why a good evaluation is so essential.

If you suspect your child has Conduct Disorder, you should take aggressive action. This is not the type of condition that you want to wait around and hope your child will outgrow. http://addadhdadvances.com/blog/

The Dance of the Swallows
They were first noticed swooping in and out of the garage. Checking it out to see if this would be a safe home. Very quickly Grand-daughter aged 8, who has eyes of a hawk, (unlike granny, whose eye sight is diminishing) saw the beginnings of a nest been built, high up on a waste pipe which ran along the roof of the garage. She watched with fascination as the nest grew bigger and bigger. The two swallows busied them selves with this task. She noticed soon that feathers were to be found in the garage which the birds would gather and carry up to their nest.

She discovered that either one swallow or the other was always in the nest or sometimes both and they would swoop us as we got in and out of the car. A while later she noticed that the two birds were very busy coming in and out of the garage on a regular basis. When the garage door was down, it left a small gap at the top of it, and she soon found out that the skill of flight of these birds was amazing, they flew through this gap at some speed.
One day she was playing in the garage and she raced up the stairs to tell us she could hear peeping. We got a stool, whilst one stood watch for the mum or dad bird, up she climbed, and low and behold there to greet her were 4 wide open beaks. She was allowed to carefully place one finger gently into the nest of birds and was amazed at how warm it was in there. Next minute a bird swooped in and we quickly retreated.

We became very used to being swooped by these birds and had learned to duck quickly. One bright sunny day we found 4 little chicks out of the nest and perched upon the waste pipe stretching their tiny wings. Days past and the parents worked very hard to feed these hungry mouths.

One afternoon we pulled into the garage and there before us was the nest collapsed on the floor, we got out and a frenzied search began for the baby birds. Meantime the parents began to swoop ever so close to ones face. She was dispatched back into the car and Nan armed with a net went about the task of trying to catch the fluttering babies. But the parent birds by now were doing a double act in trying to attack poor Nan. Nan realised the cat was about and the baby birds would be easy targets. Being the mother of invention she thought quickly, so crouching low with an umbrella over her head to prevent the attack from the parents she managed to scoop up all 4 little babies. If this had been videoed I am sure we would have won “America’s funniest home video”

Buried was in the back of the garage was an old bird cage. So the babies were safely deposited in there and the doors clipped open. This was placed way up high and we retreated back to a corner to watch. She watched in awe as the parents quickly discovered their babies and even better they did not mind that they were now in a cage. Several days passed and one morning we woke to discover that the Mum & Dad bird were taking the babies out, one at a time for flying lessons. With one parent bird either side of the baby they would take it into the sky, their movements in sync, thus began the dance of the swallows, with their babies. She said to me the other day that raising children must be very hard as look how much work the swallows had to do. “Yes my darling, it is very hard work, it takes commitment and two parents working together and a much harder job if there is only one parent and sometimes it is OK for others to help out a little” Remember this sweet child, remember this! return to top

Cutting (Not a pleasant subject but something we must be aware of)
Emma's mum first noticed the cuts when Emma was doing the dishes one night. Emma told her mum that their cat had scratched her. Her mum seemed surprised that the cat had been so rough, but she didn't think much more about it.

Emma's friends had noticed something strange as well. Even when the weather was hot, Emma wore long-sleeved shirts. She had become secretive, too, like something was bothering her. But Emma couldn't seem to find the words to tell her mum or her friends that the marks on her arms were from something that she had done. She was cutting herself with a razor when she felt sad or upset.

What Is Cutting?
Injuring yourself on purpose by making scratches or cuts on your body with a sharp object — enough to break the skin and make it bleed — is called cutting. Cutting is a type of self-injury, or SI. Most people who cut are girls, but guys self-injure, too. People who cut usually start cutting in their young teens. Some continue to cut into adulthood.

People may cut themselves on their wrists, arms, legs, or bellies. Some people self-injure by burning their skin with the end of a cigarette or lighted match.

When cuts or burns heal, they often leave scars or marks. People who injure themselves usually hide the cuts and marks and sometimes no one else knows.

Why Do People Cut Themselves?
It can be hard to understand why people cut themselves on purpose. Cutting is a way some people try to cope with the pain of strong emotions, intense pressure, or upsetting relationship problems. They may be dealing with feelings that seem too difficult to bear, or bad situations they think can't change.

Some people cut because they feel desperate for relief from bad feelings. People who cut may not know better ways to get relief from emotional pain or pressure. Some people cut to express strong feelings of rage, sorrow, rejection, desperation, longing, or emptiness.

There are other ways to cope with difficulties, even big problems and terrible emotional pain. The help of a mental health professional might be needed for major life troubles or overwhelming emotions.
For other tough situations or strong emotions, it can help put things in perspective to talk problems over with parents, other adults, or friends. Getting plenty of exercise can also help put problems in perspective and help balance emotions.

But people who cut may not have developed ways to cope. Or their coping skills may be overpowered by emotions that are too intense. When emotions don't get expressed in a healthy way, tension can build up — sometimes to a point where it seems almost unbearable. Cutting may be an attempt to relieve that extreme tension. For some, it seems like a way of feeling in control.

The urge to cut might be triggered by strong feelings the person can't express — such as anger, hurt, shame, frustration, or alienation. People who cut sometimes say they feel they don't fit in or that no one understands them. A person might cut because of losing someone close or to escape a sense of emptiness. Cutting might seem like the only way to find relief or express personal pain over relationships or rejection.

People who cut or self-injure sometimes have other mental health problems that contribute to their emotional tension. Cutting is sometimes (but not always) associated with depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, obsessive thinking, or compulsive behaviors. It can also be a sign of mental health problems that cause people to have trouble controlling their impulses or to take unnecessary risks. Some people who cut themselves have problems with drug or alcohol abuse.

Some people who cut have had a traumatic experience, such as living through abuse, violence, or a disaster. Self-injury may feel like a way of "waking up" from a sense of numbness after a traumatic experience. Or it may be a way of reinflicting the pain they went through, expressing anger over it, or trying to get control of it. return to top

What Can Happen to People Who Cut?
Although cutting may provide some temporary relief from a terrible feeling, even people who cut agree that it isn't a good way to get that relief. For one thing, the relief doesn't last. The troubles that triggered the cutting remain — they're just masked over.

People don't usually intend to hurt themselves permanently when they cut. And they don't usually mean to keep cutting once they start. But both can happen. It's possible to misjudge the depth of a cut, making it so deep that it requires stitches (or, in extreme cases, hospitalization). Cuts can become infected if a person uses non sterile or dirty cutting instruments — razors, scissors, pins, or even the sharp edge of the tab on a can of soda.

Most people who cut aren't attempting suicide. Cutting is usually a person's attempt at feeling better, not ending it all. Although some people who cut do attempt suicide, it's usually because of the emotional problems and pain that lie behind their desire to self-harm, not the cutting itself.

Cutting can be habit forming. It can become a compulsive behavior — meaning that the more a person does it, the more he or she feels the need to do it. The brain starts to connect the false sense of relief from bad feelings to the act of cutting, and it craves this relief the next time tension builds. When cutting becomes a compulsive behavior, it can seem impossible to stop. So cutting can seem almost like an addiction, where the urge to cut can seem too hard to resist. A behavior that starts as an attempt to feel more in control can end up controlling you.

How Does Cutting Start?
Cutting often begins on an impulse. It's not something the person thinks about ahead of time. Shauna says, "It starts when something's really upsetting and you don't know how to talk about it or what to do. But you can't get your mind off feeling upset, and your body has this knot of emotional pain. Before you know it, you're cutting yourself. And then somehow, you're in another place. Then, the next time you feel awful about something, you try it again — and slowly it becomes a habit."

Natalie, a high-school junior who started cutting in middle school, explains that it was a way to distract herself from feelings of rejection and helplessness she felt she couldn't bear. "I never looked at it as anything that bad at first — just my way of getting my mind off something I felt really awful about. I guess part of me must have known it was a bad thing to do, though, because I always hid it. Once a friend asked me if I was cutting myself and I even lied and said 'no.' I was embarrassed."

Sometimes self-injury affects a person's body image. Jen says, "I actually liked how the cuts looked. I felt kind of bad when they started to heal — and so I would 'freshen them up' by cutting again. Now I can see how crazy that sounds, but at the time, it seemed perfectly reasonable to me. I was all about those cuts — like they were something about me that only I knew. They were like my own way of controlling things. I don't cut myself anymore, but now I have to deal with the scars."
You can't force someone who self-injures to stop. It doesn't help to get mad at a friend who cuts, reject that person, lecture her, or beg him to stop. Instead, let your friend know that you care, that he or she deserves to be healthy and happy, and that no one needs to bear their troubles alone.

Cutting — A Way to Be Cool?
Girls and guys who self-injure are often dealing with some heavy troubles. Many work hard to overcome difficult problems. So they find it hard to believe that there are some teens who cut just because they think it's a way to seem tough and rebellious.

Tia tried cutting because a couple of the girls at her school were doing it. They pressured her. "It seemed like if I didn't do it, they would think I was afraid or something. So I did it once. But when I walked away, I thought about how lame it was to do something like that to myself for no good reason. Next time they asked I just said, 'no, thanks — it's not for me.' "

If you have a friend who suggests you try cutting, say what you think. Why get pulled into something you know isn't good for you? There are plenty of other ways to express who you are. (Not giving in to peer pressure is one of them!)

Lindsay had been cutting herself for 3 years because of abuse she suffered as a child. She's 16 now and hasn't cut herself in more than a year. "I feel proud of that," Lindsay says. "So when I hear girls talk about it like it's a fad, it really gets to me."

Getting Help
There are better ways to deal with troubles than cutting — healthier, long-lasting ways that don't leave a person with emotional and physical scars. The first step is to get help with the troubles that led to the cutting in the first place. Here are some ideas for doing that:

Tell someone. People who have stopped cutting often say the first step is the hardest — admitting to or talking about cutting. But they also say that after they open up about it, they often feel a great sense of relief. Choose someone you trust to talk to at first (a parent, school counselor, teacher, coach, doctor, or nurse). If it's too difficult to bring up the topic in person, write a note. Identify the trouble that's triggering the cutting. Cutting is a way of reacting to emotional tension or pain. Try to figure out what feelings or situations are causing you to cut. Is it anger? Pressure to be perfect? Relationship trouble? A painful loss or trauma? Mean criticism or mistreatment? Identify the trouble you're having, then tell someone about it. Many people have trouble figuring this part out on their own. This is where a mental health professional can be helpful.

Ask for help.
Tell someone that you want help dealing with your troubles and the cutting. If the person you ask doesn't help you get the assistance you need, ask someone else. Sometimes adults try to downplay the problems teens have or think they're just a phase. If you get the feeling this is happening to you, find another adult (such as a school counselor or nurse) who can make your case for you.
Work on it. Most people with deep emotional pain or distress need to work with a counselor or mental health professional to sort through strong feelings, heal past hurts, and to learn better ways to cope with life's stresses. One way to find a therapist or counselor is to ask at your doctor's office, at school, or at a mental health clinic in your community.
Although cutting can be a difficult pattern to break, it is possible. Getting professional help to overcome the problem doesn't mean that a person is weak or crazy. Therapists and counselors are trained to help people discover inner strengths that help them heal. These inner strengths can then be used to cope with life's other problems in a healthy way. Reviewed by: D'Arcy Lyness, PhD

Some cut in their inner thigh, buttocks, or areas not easily seen. return to top

Old Age, I decided, is a gift
I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometimes despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother!), but I don't agonize over those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.
I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon?

I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 & 70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.

They, too, will get old. I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong. So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it) return to top

When your teen turns on you – By Dr. Michele Borba
Last year your daughter was so sweet. This year, suddenly, she has an “attitude.”
Two months ago your son was your best bud. Now he treats you like you're totally “uncool.”

Welcome to parenting a teenager.
Throw out any of those child-rearing manuals you've used in the past. For this age, you need a whole new perspective. Mark Twain offered one solution: “Put them in a barrel, and nail it shut until they turn nineteen. Only then should you let them out.” Amen!
Here are a few more realistic (and legal) tips that might help you save your sanity and stay connected to your teen…

Know they're a little bit crazy. If you think you suddenly have an alien in your midst, applaud yourself. You're right. At no other time in your teen's life will his body undergo so many physical, sexual and emotional changes. So now's the time to alter your parenting style.

Get educated. You've read all those baby books and mastered child development 101. Make sure you read about normal teen development as well.

Use “too” as a worry index. Your teen will sometimes be moody, defiant, lazy, sleepy, and secretive. But get concerned when he becomes too moody for too long. Or too defiant for too long. Something else may be contributing to this new behaviour (drugs? alcohol? depression?) and it may be time to seek professional help. Go with your instinct.

Don't overreact. You're not imagining those mood swings. Your teen's quick-fire emotion switches show up on brain scans. They experience feelings more intensely and often overreact because they think we're upset or angry. Try counting to three before you talk. Stay calm. Lower your voice. Clarify emotions. Or take a time out. Then reconnect. Don't take it personally.

Pick your battles. Teens will be more defiant and will take issue with things they don't consider fair. They will argue. In a few years, they're going to be out on their own and their need to be independent or at least treated as an adult are paramount.
Choose what is not negotiable. You don't want to argue every little issue so select those issues you really do care about and won't change. Let minor issues go. For instance, obeying curfew is your major; cleaning her room is your minor.
Empower your teen. Whenever appropriate (and whenever you're willing to accept his verdict), ask his opinion (i.e., “What should happen if you break curfew?")

Tune up your communication skills. Whenever a teen starts to talk, stop what you're doing. Use eye contact. It helps your teen know you're focusing on him. (Put the phone on voice mail and forget the laundry.) Don't talk on longer than one minute. Don't stand when you're talking. If there's a void, don't jump in to fill the silence. (Wait three seconds.) Talk to him while he's doing something active. Talk to him when he's not tired. (A teen's least receptive time: first thing in the morning. The second worst time: right after school.) Halt the criticism. (Coming off like a prosecutor is guaranteed to turn off a teen.) Whenever you feel a judgmental comment coming on, replace it with: “Tell me more. What makes you say that?" Count to two before responding. Or just bite your tongue. Talk about your teen's interests. Use technology. (Let her teach you how to text message.)

Don't give up. If you need to communicate via a white board or post-its, do it! Keep showing up and letting your teen know you're there for him. Remember, in just a few years that teen will be gone. return to top

Parent to Parent Training Dates 2008
Subject to funding, some Support Parent Training with have additional dates TBA
Month Training Area Dates
Feb Sib leaders training Wellington Weekend 15, 16, 17
Feb IEP Invercargill Tuesday 19th
Feb IEP Dunedin Monday 25th
Feb IEP Dunedin Monday 25th
Feb IEP Cromwell Thursday 21st
March Support Parent Training Southland & Dunedin Evening 26 Feb Weekend 8-9 and 15th March
March Support Parent Training Auckland & Waikato Weekend 8-9
March Support Parent Training refresher Central Lakes Saturday 8
March Support Parent Training Greater Canturbury Weekend 29-30 March and 5 April
April IEP Hutt Valley Tuesday 1st
April IEP Wellington Wednesday 2nd
April Advocacy Training Auckland Tue 8-Wed 9
April IEP Nelson Friday 11th
April Advocacy Training Southland Weekend 12-13
April IEP Whangarei Tuesday 15th
May Advocacy Training Central Lakes Weekend 3-4
May Advocacy Training Christchurch Weekend 17-18
June Support Parent Training Wellington & Manawatu Weekend 7-8
June Support Parent Training Christchurch Weekend 6-8
June IEP Hamilton Tuesday 10th
June IEP Rotorua Wednesday 11th
June IEP Tauranga Thursday 12th
June Advocacy Training CBOP Weekend 21-22
August Advocacy Training Wellington Weekend 2-3
August Advocacy Training Waikato Weekend 16-17
September Advocacy Training Manawatu TBA
September IEP Auckland Thursday 11th
September IEP Auckland Friday 12th
September Support Parent Training Christchurch Weekend 13-14 and 20
September Support Parent Training CBOP & Central Lakes Weekend 13-14
October IEP Greymouth Tuesday 14th
October IEP Christchurch Wednesday 15th
October IEP Christchurch Thursday 16th
October IEP Timaru Thursday 16th
November IEP Napier Tuesday 4th
November IEP Wairoa Wednesday 5th
November IEP Gisborne Thursday 6th
November IEP Wanganui Tuesday 11th
November IEP Palmerston North Wednesday 12th
November IEP New Plymouth Tuesday 18th
Sib Facilitator training TBA
Advocacy Training Nelson TBA
Advocacy Training Northland TBA

Ruth Taylor
Training Co-ordinator
Parent to Parent New Zealand Inc
PO Box 234
Waikato Mail Centre Phone/Fax: 07 853 8491 Toll Free: 0508 236 236
email: rutht@parent2parent.org.nz Website: www.parent2parent.org.nz return to top

Last but certainly not least:
Grand-daughter 14 is reading a book called “Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul 3’. A fabulous book for teens who struggle with life or have had struggles in life.
She found a passage which she said related to her and me (being Nan and not blood related)

Sometimes when we are out people comment on how much we look alike, and we turn to each other and laugh, forgetting until that moment that it wasn’t she who carried me in her womb for nine months.

Though I may not know why I look the way I do, I know why I am, who I am.

The Mum (Nan) I have now is the best one I could ever have hoped for, not only because she holds a tremendous amount of unconditional love, but because she has shaped who I am today, my qualities and characteristics. She is the one who made me beautiful.

I can not express how much this touched my soul!

Di
National Convenor and the team.
E te Atua, aroha mai..... O God shower us with love
Ka kite

return to top