Parenting with Purpose
Parenting with Purpose - Part 1 Registration (Reg Part I Flyer.pdf)
(Requires Adobe Acrobat)
Parenting with Purpose - Part 2 Registration (Reg Part 2 Flyer.pdf)
(Requires Adobe Acrobat)
What's being said about Parenting With Purpose .
.
Amy Ferrell presented the valuable principles of her Parenting with Purpose class in a workshop format to our Children’s Ministries’ volunteers. It continues to have the reputation as being the most popular and practical training that we have offered to volunteers of all ages; parents, grandparents and non-parents. The feedback I received overwhelmingly confirmed that the principles helped volunteers provide loving limits in classroom situations, with the added benefit of reinforcing what many parents, who had taken Amy’s class, were doing at home. I would highly recommend that any church, or children’s organization, take advantage of Amy’s wisdom and creative presentation. She made a great investment in our church family.
Marcie Grabau, Mother of 5
Former Director of Children’s Ministries of Grace Community Church
Parenting With Purpose is an insightful class that teaches techniques on how to parent and discipline children in a kind and loving way, while allowing them to experience natural consequences of their choices and helping them to understand limits. Amy Ferrell infuses the classes with witty and amusing anecdotes from her own family experiences. She has been teaching this class for eight years in various settings for large and small groups of parents throughout Howard County.
In
the Parenting with Purpose course, Amy Ferrell incorporates her wealth
of personal experiences as a mother of six children. Her extensive
knowledge of past and present trends in parenting, different
theoretical approaches, and a strong commitment to parenting from a
spiritual perspective has proven to be effective as well as relevant.
Amy brings a wide range of useful resources that can be revisited over time. Combined with her empathetic teaching style that fosters open and honest sharing of parental concerns and the time to address specific concerns, the course became invaluable for us.
Most importantly, Amy's enthusiasm and optimism truly inspired Greg and me to mplement new ideas and strategies for strengthening our family. We feel Amy's Parenting with Purpose course helped put us firmly on the path to creating a happy and healthy family, one deeply committed to a shared set of values and beliefs.
Kathy Dolan, MA
Licensed Professional Counselor
Recent comments on Parenting with Purpose
Amy Ferrell's classes have been a real eye opener for me. I have a 12-year-old daughter who is entering the typical adolescent stage (you know the stage, it's the "I-know-more-than-you" stage). Amy's class has taught me how to avoid or diffuse power struggles, appropriate consequences for bad behavior, set boundaries, and most importantly, I am learning how to do this in love and not in anger. I have used her techniques many times and have been amazed at the results.
Were it not for her classes, I can honestly say that I would be engaging in daily power struggles with my daughter. We both would be unhappy. Amy's classes have taught me to give my daughter the power to make her own choices and accept the consequences of those choices – something that is not easy for this former "compulsive controller."
Thank you, Amy! I will be using what I have learned for many years to come.
Anita Cisneros, October 2006
Amy Ferrell’s Parenting with Purpose class has been a wonderful experience. Her personal experiences as a Mom coupled with her compassionate nature has really helped me to be a better parent.
Patrice Cerwonka, October 2006
I have just completed eight weeks of Amy Ferrell's Parenting with Purpose class. It was one of the most positive experiences I've encountered. I felt very comfortable expressing all of my parenting concerns and feel this type of class is good for ALL ages and stages. My only regret is that I didn't have the opportunity to take Amy's course when my children were younger—it would have made the early years a lot easier!
Julie Barry, October 2006
Parenting With Purpose is an insightful class that teaches techniques on how to parent and discipline children in a kind and loving way, while allowing them to experience natural consequences of their choices and helping them to understand limits. Amy Ferrell infuses the classes with witty and amusing anecdotes from her own family experiences. She has been teaching this class for eight years in various settings for large and small groups of parents throughout Howard County.
Teacher Anita Gottschalk, Columbia Montessori School
I appreciate the sacrifice that Amy Ferrell made in coming to Montana in April 2007 and pouring herself into us regarding how to better understand and discipline our children. So many people have used her wisdom and it has made a huge difference in many families!
For our family, it was an answer to prayer! We had been praying for 6 months for God to show us how to help our son, Camden with the anxiety and fear he was having. He was especially anxious when we left him at preschool, church classes, and even with babysitters. I was so glad that you gave me personal time to ask some direct questions. We did everything that you suggested and immediately we couldn’t believe that we had no tears! For one week straight this went on and we thought, ‘how could this be?’
We created the calendar for him with pictures so he knew what to expect every day of the week. We visited the calendar every night at bedtime to tell him what he could expect the next day and to answer his questions. I started getting him up an hour early and leaving him in his pajamas like you said for some free playtime. I didn’t push breakfast on him, press him for getting dressed nor rush him to get his teeth brushed. I just let him have 40 minutes to warm up and then I slowly transitioned him into breakfast and clothes. I cannot tell you how happy he has become! How secure he seems to feel! He has been a different child. You were an answer to our prayers.
Thank you for your invaluable help. I have friends out of state who also have ‘slow-to-warm-up’ children. We have mailed your notebook to them and several of our local friends (some with high-schoolers!) have been implementing your ideas as well. I am sure that you don’t always hear about the impact of your teaching, but I can tell you it has been life-changing for a lot of us here in Montana and beyond!
Thank you so much for the difference that you have made in our lives. We appreciate you and your family for allowing us to have you here.
Dana and Sam Shuman
Bozeman, MT
Baltimore Sun Journalist Interview, January 31, 2005
Greetings! This is the third "Friday with the Ferrells," a series of conversations that I, Lisa Kawata, am having with Tim and Amy Ferrell about their role with The Navigators' Church Discipleship Ministry. In this letter, Amy talks about her parenting curriculum, Parenting with Purpose, which she has been teaching in the community for about nine years.
Amy, what happened in your life that led you to want to develop your own parenting course?
I'm sure it began with my own parenting struggles and frustrations. I wanted to better understand my own struggles as well as grow in a deeper understanding of how God, our Father, parents us. This put me on a journey. And I found I just had a heart for those who were going through similar difficulties. I wanted to be part of a positive solution.
Nine years ago, I began working with Tim Siemens, a pastor at Grace Community Church, on a curriculum that could resource parents and equip families as well as reach out to our community. I later met a Christian psychiatrist who asked me to offer the course through his counseling center.
What is different about your course from what is already out there?
There are so many excellent resources available today. What is unique about what I do is that the materials are developed for a process of growth, interaction, and discovery. Learning in a small-group setting with others, and being able to ask questions for specific, personal applications are critical. Each family is unique. I work with parents on everything from learning to play with your child, communicating, using "time-outs," motivating, solving problems, determining values, nurturing yourself as a parent, understanding the big picture, and more.
What are some of the resources you use?
Boundaries by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend is the first resource I use. This covers several important issues in parenting such as: what are, and what are not my responsibilities as a parent.
The Parents Handbook by Don Dinkmeyer is like a condensed version of Rudolph Driekur's classic book Children the Challenge. It is excellent for strengthening the parent-child relationship through good communication and an understanding of why children misbehave.
1-2-3 Magic by Dr. Thomas Phelan helps parents in practical ways learn to set boundaries for themselves and teach children boundaries through self-discipline.
Two other books I recommend are Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families by Dr. Stephen Covey and How to Really Love Your Child by Dr. Ross Campbell. Campbell's book is strong in parent-child nurturing.
How do you keep the program fluid and adaptable?
I am constantly reading, gathering, and adapting new and relevant information. The very essence of what we work on together is problem-solving for your child, and the parent-child relationship. Since my course is interactive, there is great room to adapt to specific needs. Bringing the puzzle pieces together—relationships, teaching parents how to make observations, learning how to solve problems, and instituting change—are my goals.
What do you hear are the most prevalent challenges parents are facing today?
One key area is helping parents learn to set limits effectively. Our society lives in excess in almost every area of life. Determining what are appropriate limits, learning how to set them, and then teaching our children to do the same is important. The longer I work with families, I realize that making sense out of your own life—learning to "tell your story"—is critical for being able to understand why you respond the way you do to your children. Understanding that story can help you make better decisions and better choices about what your children need.
You talk about understanding your own story. If your story is negative, how do you break out of that so you don't pass it on to your children?
What I share with people is a story of hope—a story that longs to break free from the past, to embrace a future that can change the present. I teach parents how to become change agents in the family, with a vision for what they want their family to become. That high calling can motivate us to make changes in our lives in which the past is literally pushed out.
What has changed most in the 20 years that you and Tim have been parenting your six children?
We have recognized our controlling natures and sought to become parents who equip and empower our children. We were very concerned with outward behavior. Of course, we were concerned for their hearts as well, but we tried to control their hearts by monitoring their outer behavior. We have changed, in that now we give each of our children room to make real choices with appropriate consequences. We have very much moved from authoritarian to authoritative—from "control-parenting" to parenting that teaches children to discipline themselves from the inside out.
(Requires Adobe Acrobat)
Parenting with Purpose - Part 2 Registration (Reg Part 2 Flyer.pdf)
(Requires Adobe Acrobat)
What's being said about Parenting With Purpose .
.
Amy Ferrell presented the valuable principles of her Parenting with Purpose class in a workshop format to our Children’s Ministries’ volunteers. It continues to have the reputation as being the most popular and practical training that we have offered to volunteers of all ages; parents, grandparents and non-parents. The feedback I received overwhelmingly confirmed that the principles helped volunteers provide loving limits in classroom situations, with the added benefit of reinforcing what many parents, who had taken Amy’s class, were doing at home. I would highly recommend that any church, or children’s organization, take advantage of Amy’s wisdom and creative presentation. She made a great investment in our church family.
Marcie Grabau, Mother of 5
Former Director of Children’s Ministries of Grace Community Church
Parenting With Purpose is an insightful class that teaches techniques on how to parent and discipline children in a kind and loving way, while allowing them to experience natural consequences of their choices and helping them to understand limits. Amy Ferrell infuses the classes with witty and amusing anecdotes from her own family experiences. She has been teaching this class for eight years in various settings for large and small groups of parents throughout Howard County.
Teacher Anita Gottschalk, Columbia Montessori School
Amy brings a wide range of useful resources that can be revisited over time. Combined with her empathetic teaching style that fosters open and honest sharing of parental concerns and the time to address specific concerns, the course became invaluable for us.
Most importantly, Amy's enthusiasm and optimism truly inspired Greg and me to mplement new ideas and strategies for strengthening our family. We feel Amy's Parenting with Purpose course helped put us firmly on the path to creating a happy and healthy family, one deeply committed to a shared set of values and beliefs.
Kathy Dolan, MA
Licensed Professional Counselor
Recent comments on Parenting with Purpose
Amy Ferrell's classes have been a real eye opener for me. I have a 12-year-old daughter who is entering the typical adolescent stage (you know the stage, it's the "I-know-more-than-you" stage). Amy's class has taught me how to avoid or diffuse power struggles, appropriate consequences for bad behavior, set boundaries, and most importantly, I am learning how to do this in love and not in anger. I have used her techniques many times and have been amazed at the results.
Were it not for her classes, I can honestly say that I would be engaging in daily power struggles with my daughter. We both would be unhappy. Amy's classes have taught me to give my daughter the power to make her own choices and accept the consequences of those choices – something that is not easy for this former "compulsive controller."
Thank you, Amy! I will be using what I have learned for many years to come.
Anita Cisneros, October 2006
Amy Ferrell’s Parenting with Purpose class has been a wonderful experience. Her personal experiences as a Mom coupled with her compassionate nature has really helped me to be a better parent.
Patrice Cerwonka, October 2006
I have just completed eight weeks of Amy Ferrell's Parenting with Purpose class. It was one of the most positive experiences I've encountered. I felt very comfortable expressing all of my parenting concerns and feel this type of class is good for ALL ages and stages. My only regret is that I didn't have the opportunity to take Amy's course when my children were younger—it would have made the early years a lot easier!
Julie Barry, October 2006
Parenting With Purpose is an insightful class that teaches techniques on how to parent and discipline children in a kind and loving way, while allowing them to experience natural consequences of their choices and helping them to understand limits. Amy Ferrell infuses the classes with witty and amusing anecdotes from her own family experiences. She has been teaching this class for eight years in various settings for large and small groups of parents throughout Howard County.
Teacher Anita Gottschalk, Columbia Montessori School
I appreciate the sacrifice that Amy Ferrell made in coming to Montana in April 2007 and pouring herself into us regarding how to better understand and discipline our children. So many people have used her wisdom and it has made a huge difference in many families!
For our family, it was an answer to prayer! We had been praying for 6 months for God to show us how to help our son, Camden with the anxiety and fear he was having. He was especially anxious when we left him at preschool, church classes, and even with babysitters. I was so glad that you gave me personal time to ask some direct questions. We did everything that you suggested and immediately we couldn’t believe that we had no tears! For one week straight this went on and we thought, ‘how could this be?’
We created the calendar for him with pictures so he knew what to expect every day of the week. We visited the calendar every night at bedtime to tell him what he could expect the next day and to answer his questions. I started getting him up an hour early and leaving him in his pajamas like you said for some free playtime. I didn’t push breakfast on him, press him for getting dressed nor rush him to get his teeth brushed. I just let him have 40 minutes to warm up and then I slowly transitioned him into breakfast and clothes. I cannot tell you how happy he has become! How secure he seems to feel! He has been a different child. You were an answer to our prayers.
Thank you for your invaluable help. I have friends out of state who also have ‘slow-to-warm-up’ children. We have mailed your notebook to them and several of our local friends (some with high-schoolers!) have been implementing your ideas as well. I am sure that you don’t always hear about the impact of your teaching, but I can tell you it has been life-changing for a lot of us here in Montana and beyond!
Thank you so much for the difference that you have made in our lives. We appreciate you and your family for allowing us to have you here.
Dana and Sam Shuman
Bozeman, MT
Baltimore Sun Journalist Interview, January 31, 2005
Greetings! This is the third "Friday with the Ferrells," a series of conversations that I, Lisa Kawata, am having with Tim and Amy Ferrell about their role with The Navigators' Church Discipleship Ministry. In this letter, Amy talks about her parenting curriculum, Parenting with Purpose, which she has been teaching in the community for about nine years.
Amy, what happened in your life that led you to want to develop your own parenting course?
I'm sure it began with my own parenting struggles and frustrations. I wanted to better understand my own struggles as well as grow in a deeper understanding of how God, our Father, parents us. This put me on a journey. And I found I just had a heart for those who were going through similar difficulties. I wanted to be part of a positive solution.
Nine years ago, I began working with Tim Siemens, a pastor at Grace Community Church, on a curriculum that could resource parents and equip families as well as reach out to our community. I later met a Christian psychiatrist who asked me to offer the course through his counseling center.
What is different about your course from what is already out there?
There are so many excellent resources available today. What is unique about what I do is that the materials are developed for a process of growth, interaction, and discovery. Learning in a small-group setting with others, and being able to ask questions for specific, personal applications are critical. Each family is unique. I work with parents on everything from learning to play with your child, communicating, using "time-outs," motivating, solving problems, determining values, nurturing yourself as a parent, understanding the big picture, and more.
What are some of the resources you use?
Boundaries by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend is the first resource I use. This covers several important issues in parenting such as: what are, and what are not my responsibilities as a parent.
The Parents Handbook by Don Dinkmeyer is like a condensed version of Rudolph Driekur's classic book Children the Challenge. It is excellent for strengthening the parent-child relationship through good communication and an understanding of why children misbehave.
1-2-3 Magic by Dr. Thomas Phelan helps parents in practical ways learn to set boundaries for themselves and teach children boundaries through self-discipline.
Two other books I recommend are Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families by Dr. Stephen Covey and How to Really Love Your Child by Dr. Ross Campbell. Campbell's book is strong in parent-child nurturing.
How do you keep the program fluid and adaptable?
I am constantly reading, gathering, and adapting new and relevant information. The very essence of what we work on together is problem-solving for your child, and the parent-child relationship. Since my course is interactive, there is great room to adapt to specific needs. Bringing the puzzle pieces together—relationships, teaching parents how to make observations, learning how to solve problems, and instituting change—are my goals.
What do you hear are the most prevalent challenges parents are facing today?
One key area is helping parents learn to set limits effectively. Our society lives in excess in almost every area of life. Determining what are appropriate limits, learning how to set them, and then teaching our children to do the same is important. The longer I work with families, I realize that making sense out of your own life—learning to "tell your story"—is critical for being able to understand why you respond the way you do to your children. Understanding that story can help you make better decisions and better choices about what your children need.
You talk about understanding your own story. If your story is negative, how do you break out of that so you don't pass it on to your children?
What I share with people is a story of hope—a story that longs to break free from the past, to embrace a future that can change the present. I teach parents how to become change agents in the family, with a vision for what they want their family to become. That high calling can motivate us to make changes in our lives in which the past is literally pushed out.
What has changed most in the 20 years that you and Tim have been parenting your six children?
We have recognized our controlling natures and sought to become parents who equip and empower our children. We were very concerned with outward behavior. Of course, we were concerned for their hearts as well, but we tried to control their hearts by monitoring their outer behavior. We have changed, in that now we give each of our children room to make real choices with appropriate consequences. We have very much moved from authoritarian to authoritative—from "control-parenting" to parenting that teaches children to discipline themselves from the inside out.