More about Parenting Patois
IS THIS WORKSHOP FOR PARENTS ONLY?
No. Parenting Patois is for adults who identify as part of a child’s support system. This includes biological and adoptive fathers and mothers, primary caretakers and family members, and facilitators of Self-Directed Education. Grandparents, cousins, aunts, godparents, and adult siblings are welcome here.
IS THIS EXCLUSIVELY FOR BLACK AND BROWN FAMILIES?
No. Any adult who is urgently ready to practice more effective, less combative communication with a young person in their life is welcome to join us. I get this question often, primarily because my work centers and prioritizes BIPOC families. This is one of my workshops that I’ve found applies to anyone, so if you’re not a Black, Indigenous, or a person of color, but you believe that it is possible to live in respectful, trust-based relationships with children you love, this space will have resources you’ll find helpful and encouraging.
IS THIS AN UNSCHOOLING WORKSHOP?
No, it’s a parenting workshop, and you don’t have to be an unschooler for this work to be effective for you. For sure, the principles of unschooling (and deschooling) most certainly influence my perspectives and practices, but we will not focus on unschooling in this workshop. What we’ll focus on is the habits and thoughts that currently influence our approach to parenting, whether/how they’re harmful, and what we can do to orient our parenting towards a more partner-centered, liberation-minded, respectful practices.
WILL I BE ABLE TO TALK TO YOU LIVE?
Yes. I will choose a few days in October to offer live, private group video chats (via Zoom.us). These will be somewhat impromptu since I haven’t chosen the dates yet. We can talk about them (in the comments section) inside the workshop space, and choose a time that will work for most of us. This will give you the space to ask me questions that are specific to your situation, and it will give us the power of collective, collaborative brainstorming and perspective-finding about your most frustrating parenting concerns.
HOW WILL I ACCESS PARENTING PATOIS?
After you complete the application, I will email you to either accept your application, ask you more questions, or to explain why I don’t think the workshop is a good fit for your needs. Once we’ve communicated through email and you’ve confirmed your spot (via the $177 investment), I will email you again on October 1, 2018 with your unique log-in link. That link will give you full access to all the audio and video aspects of the webinar. You will also have downloadable pdfs and a space to communicate with other workshop participants through written comments.
HOW LONG WILL I HAVE ACCESS TO THIS WORKSHOP?
Parenting Patois will be available online all October long. On November 1, you will no longer have access to the virtual workshop space, but you will have had the benefits of discussion, research, and the tools and ideas that develop from YOU as a result of you being exposed to practices, tools, and mindset shifts around your relationship with the children in your life. I’m removing access after October because I want the comments and conversations to be private within our group. I will also send you a copy of all the written comments throughout the workshop space, in case any perspectives from me or fellow participants need to be part of your everyday practice for a while.
ARE THERE ANY CORE CONCEPTS RELATED TO THIS WORK?
Yes, there are five of them, and I’ve listed them on the main page. They are rooted in the work and people who have influenced my parenting practice and range from aspects of Black Feminist Thought, to social justice and civil rights work, to (of course) the ways my own children are raising me as Kris and I help to raise them.
IS THIS WORKSHOP AVAILABLE FOR GROUP VIEWING?
Yes. I offer a” group parenting workshop” option with a customized application that will allow me to include some elements specific to your groups needs. Learning spaces, parenting groups, and social justice oriented organizations who see the value in this work of raising free people are welcome here. There is a separate access option for groups, so send me a voice mail using the button on the right of this page, or leave a comment on the form below the video telling me a bit about your group or organization, and I’ll follow up with the application. The price for the group version is $500 and can include up to 100 participants.