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UNLEARNING CHILD ABUSE.


Byline: Rosemary Harris
This article is about the actress. For the author of children's fiction, see Rosemary Harris (writer)


Rosemary Ann Harris[1] (born September 19, 1930) is a Tony Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated English actress and a member of
 Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, city (1990 pop. 281,140), seat of El Paso co., central Colo., on Monument and Fountain creeks, at the foot of Pikes Peak; inc. 1886. It is a year-round resort and a booming military, technological, and commercial city.  Gazette Telegraph

They say it's better to light a candle To Light a Candle is the 2004 second fantasy novel of Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory's Obsidian Trilogy. Plot summary
The struggle Continues against the Demons and introduces new heroes and enemies along the way.
 than to curse the darkness.

At least that's what Melinda Hardage says.

And though we aren't even close to lifting the curse of child abuse, neglect and bad parenting, it's good to know that a few candles are being lighted.

In the rooms that house the Nurturing Program for Families, folks like Hardage, Rita Wiley, Renee Harris and others are lighting candles as they teach parents how to be better parents.

I found myself in those rooms this week because of a column I wrote nearly two weeks ago about the child-abuse prevention rally at Pioneers Museum park. I wrote about child-abuse victims and explained that the rally was meant to raise awareness. I felt I had done a good thing.

But when I found myself on the phone talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to"
lecture, speech

rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to
 Hardage, she thanked me then, politely, took me to task. She never said it outright, but I know Hardage thought that column merely cursed the darkness.

It didn't light candles.

I was already reporting another column when I talked to her.

Instead, I'll ask: What can we do to help mothers - and fathers - so that child abuse, neglect and bad parenting can be prevented?

And there's an answer.

Parents are made - not born. We can teach parents how to be good parents. That's what Hardage does in her private family therapy practice and that's what she does in the Nurturing Program.

She bemoans the perception that parenting is intuitive; that we're all equipped with the skills to raise kids. She says those ideas are a farce. Rather, it's a fact that most good parents had good parents who taught them parenting by example. But it's also a fact that not everyone had good parents. Or grandparents grandparents nplabuelos mpl

grandparents grand nplgrands-parents mpl

grandparents grand npl
. No examples. No instruction.

But in the rooms that house the Nurturing Program, something is being done to reverse that: About 70 parents and their children are being taught how to be families.

Some are here because they feel they need to be. Others are here because the courts or the Department of Social Services social services
Noun, pl

welfare services provided by local authorities or a state agency for people with particular social needs

social services nplservicios mpl sociales 
 have said they must be.

Because of a court custody battle, Dave and Rebecca must be here.

Dave hated it at first. Now, he wants to be here.

He's learned a lot: Lessons about developmental expectations, empathy, behavior management behavior management Psychology Any nonpharmacologic maneuver–eg contingency reinforcement–that is intended to correct behavioral problems in a child with a mental disorder–eg, ADHD. See Attention-deficit-hyperactivity syndrome. , self-awareness. He's learned what it means to be an infant or a toddler. About how a toddler is destined des·tine  
tr.v. des·tined, des·tin·ing, des·tines
1. To determine beforehand; preordain: a foolish scheme destined to fail; a film destined to become a classic.

2.
 to spill the milk, have an accident, a tantrum tan·trum
n.
A fit of bad temper.


tantrum,
n a sudden outburst or violent display of rage, frustration, and bad temper, usually occurring in a maladjusted child or immature or disturbed adult.
. About how a daddy is supposed to comfort, teach, respect and love - as he's mopping up the mess.

Research shows that 90 percent of those who graduate from this program learn enough to significantly improve their family relationships.

Maybe Dave and Rebecca will, too.

CAPTION(S):

Chart

Chart: Child abuse: A national profile

Knight-Ridder Tribune Graphics Network
COPYRIGHT 1997 Daily News
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 1997, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Article Details
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Title Annotation:L.A. LIFE
Publication:Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)
Article Type:Statistical Data Included
Date:Apr 27, 1997
Words:481
Previous Article:UP & COMING : PARENTS.(L.A. LIFE)
Next Article:PARENTING : SOME HELP FOR OVERWORKED MOMS.(L.A. LIFE)



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