The “Yes Mommy” Workshop: How to Talk So Your Child Will Listen

“How many times do I have to tell you to ___________________?”

“Do I have to tell you over and over that ______________________?”

“Didn’t you hear what I said? I said, ‘___________________________’! NOW!”

(Feel free to fill in the blanks.)

Many of us parents probably feel helpless when we resort to saying statements like those above. A lot of us may feel frustrated and angry when our kids don’t seem to listen to us, and we want to know why.

(Related story: 10 Reasons Why Your Kids Don’t Listen to You”)

A lot of times, the answer may be simple: We don’t know how to talk so our children will listen and understand. We say what we don’t mean and don’t say what we mean. Often, we end up losing our temper and saying things we regret.

What we need then is to build a foundation of good communication with our children. However, for most of us, we are clueless as to where to start, and how to get the tips and tools we need for doing so.

This is what Jayme Gatbonton, mom of two, teacher, former corporate trainer and writer behind Optimommy.com aims to do with the “Yes Mommy: How to Talk So Your Child Will Listen and Understand” workshop she is putting up on December 15, in collaboration with Manila Workshops.

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On why she is passionate about this workshop, Jayme explains, “Way back in high school, I was a huge fan of Norman Vincent Peale’s ‘The Power of Positive Thinking’ and I treated it pretty much as my guide to life.”

Although totally unprepared to be a mom, Jayme decided early on in her pregnancies that she would practice positive parenting with her girls as they grew up - that meant using encouraging language, having proactive interactions and implementing gentle but firm discipline. It looked easy on paper, but proved to be hard to do.

Jayme then decided, “I figured I’d go back to all the personal growth books I’ve read over the years and apply what I learned to raising my children and to managing myself in my new role as mom.”

She also underwent training in Neuro Linguistic Programming and tried her hand at corporate training, facilitated workshops to help company employees use the power of their mind and their words to get the results they want in their jobs, whether it’s dealing with an irate customer, persuading a new client or negotiating with the boss.

After her short stint at corporate training, Jayme entered the academe and started teaching Mass Communications students at Far Eastern University.

Combining what she learned from the trainings she has done, communication concepts she teaches at university and accumulated wisdom from everything she had read, Jayme says, “I was happy to find that they worked in parenting too.”

“To be clear: My children are not perfect, far from it. And so am I. But being intentional about how I raised them made my job as a mother just a little bit easier.”

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It is Jayme’s hope that her passion for intentional parenting and sharing what she can with other parents will “bear fruit” through the “Yes Mommy” workshop. Topics to be covered include:

- Self Talk for Mommies: Why positive communication begins with you
- How to understand your child’s personality
- How to adjust your communication style based on your child’s personality
- The Three Elements of Positive Communication: Crucial factors to encourage your children to listen and understand
- How to say “no” by saying “yes”

Jayme’s goal is also for participants to “pick up information, encouragement and even inspiration that will help make this lifetime commitment of mothering just a little bit easier.” Attendees will also gain:
- Tools to start your day with calmness and intention
- Patience in dealing with your children
- Resources to communicate persuasively
- A network of like minded moms who can give encouragement and support

If you’re interested to attend this workshop, Jayme is offering a SPECIAL DISCOUNT for all Smart Parenting readers — each participant will only have to pay P500. Just use the discount code OptimommySPOnline when you register here. Below are the workshop details:

“Yes Mommy”: How to Talk So Your Child Will Listen and Understand
Date: Saturday, December 15, 2012
Time: 9:00 am to 4:45 pm
Venue: COWO - Ground Floor, Suntree Tower, #27 Sapphire Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City
Rates:
•    Regular rate of Php 1,400 / participant
•    Early bird rate of Php 1,200 / participant (PAID before Dec. 1, 2012 or via Okayokay.com until Dec. 10)
•    Group discount of Php 1,000 for 3 or more participants
*Lunch and afternoon snack included

Payment may be via Okayokay.com or deposit to a UnionBank or BPI Account or via Paypal (Please add Php 50 for Paypal charges).