ReBrilliance Introduces Steering Wheel Conversations!

Greetings!  If you are reading this column for the very first time, welcome!  For those of you who have been reading for awhile now, welcome back!  It's been a few months and we have some exciting news.

First of all, you've probably noticed that we have a new name and a new look to go along with it.  The Steering Wheel Conversations Column for Parents that we have been gladly sending since 2004 is now The SWC Letter.

But that's not all that's new.  We also have a new website just for parents where we are building an online community and have just released a new line of products to help parents raise successful and happy children.  Take a look at www.SteeringWheelConversations.com and let us know what you think!  Check back often as we will be adding new information, products and community features regularly.

Briefly, for our new subscribers ... when we started our company, ReBrilliance, five years ago our primary focus was on providing solutions for educators in school and afterschool settings.  Our mission was (and still is) to help educators and parents teach children to become purposeful, resilient and lifelong achievers.  Or more simply, to teach children how to win and achieve.  The premise of our company is that "winning and achieving" can be taught.

This year, thanks to all of the positive feedback and encouragement we have received, we have just launched the new and improved Steering Wheel Conversations product line and online community JUST FOR PARENTS ... with much more to come! 

The concept behind it all is simple:  In order to converse with and teach your children what they need in order to win and achieve at life, you need a method of communication beyond the implementation of parental rules and regulations.  You need to find ways to help your children understand why you do what you do and think what you think.  Doing so provides substance to your mandates so that your children can think, reflect, question and integrate what they need.

Please consider this your invitation to join our new community and contribute to this most important effort:  parents helping parents raise winning and achieving children.  In addition to continuing to receive this email, by joining the new community you will also enjoy these benefits:

• Ability to participate in the online Blog and Column discussions
  (start today and let us know what you think about this new format!)

• Free online workshops for parents

• First to know about new products, community features, events and promotions

Go here to sign-up for the community!

Thank you for reading.

- The Steering Wheel Conversations Team

What Is Your Parent Dream?

by Robert Newberry, M.Ed.

I love to speak with successful parents and ask them questions about how they pulled it off.

I recently had a long conversation with a former teacher, Vince, whom I hadn't seen in several years. I asked him about his family and, as he began talking about his two sons, now both adults, it became obvious that he was proud of the men they had become. Both had graduated from high school with a variety of interests, one in theater and the other in history. The history buff was also an accomplished competitive swimmer. Both went onto graduate from major Midwest universities.

Vince shared numerous stories that described these fine young men. One story, however, stood out. The history student had started a career in television news. He had done very well working for several years in a local market and then was able to secure a big promotion to a major news network. He was clearly on the fast track up the corporate ladder. His dad described a recent conversation in which he asked his son what his next career move would be. The son paused and replied that he was about to shift gears and pursue graduate school. Pleased, his dad asked what he would be studying ... maybe business, or broadcasting. His son replied that he enjoyed what he was doing in broadcasting and the financial benefits from doing so were great. But, he said to his father, he was thinking of getting his teaching license so that he could become a high school history teacher and coach.

As Vince was relaying this story, his eyes started to moisten. He was overwhelmed by the fact that his son, in spite of the success that he had already experienced in the broadcasting field, was planning to give it up in order to pursue the same career to which his father had dedicated so many very successful years. The son was paying his father the ultimate compliment as he recognized that what his father had dedicated his professional life to was important and worthy of his own dedication. Would you like to experience the fulfillment enjoyed by this parent as he reflects about his child's success? How would you feel if your child's use of you as a role model contributes to his or her success?

Do you ever think about your vision for being a successful parent? What kind of person do you want your child to become? What personal characteristics and qualities do you want your child to possess as he or she moves through the years on the way to adulthood? What do you want for your child in terms of talents and abilities? Do you have specific pursuits in mind for your child or do you view your child's discovery and development of those talents and abilities as unique to him or her? What kind of relationship do you want with your child ... now, as he or she is growing up and as an adult? Or, how about this question: how do you want your child to describe you or eulogize you when you are gone? The relationship he or she had with you? The example you provided to them?

I learn from successful parents what I hear from anyone who has made a dream come true. There is a significant difference between a dream and a wish. A person pursuing a dream understands that he or she has the capacity through effort to make that dream come true. A person with a wish understands that he or she is dependent on someone or something else for the wish to materialize. A person pursuing a dream is clear that, as well as effort, commitment and a disposition to learn are crucial. A person with a wish cares about neither of these because, again, a wish coming true depends on something or someone else.

In previous columns I have challenged parents to become the primary influence in their children's lives. Step number one is to make sure that when you reflect about the kind of parent you aspire to be, it is a dream and not a wish. Sure there are plenty of aspects outside of the family that can enhance the life of a child, but it is vital that you understand that no one and nothing can take your place in raising your child. It is equally vital that you understand that you have the capacity to be the parent you aspire to be so long as you are willing to commit the necessary effort and possess the willingness to learn what is required to do the job. Like Vince, you too can realize the fulfillment of a job well done.

I look forward to discussing in future columns how to make your parent dream come true.

From the Blog:  Helping Parents Raise Successful Children

Educators:  Link your school or afterschool programs to parents with Steering Wheel Conversations.

If you work with children in a school or afterschool setting we would like to encourage you to use Steering Wheel Conversations tools as resources for the parents of your students.

Below are several ways this can be done!

1. Use the Steering Wheel Conversations Column, by Robert Newberry, as a regular feature in your printed or electronic newsletter.  Get started now with What is Your Parent Dream?, in this issue.

2. Link to www.SteeringWheelConversations.com from your website and encourage parents to use the free online community.

3. Purchase Steering Wheel Conversations products to give away as resources that support your educational goals in a parent/family-friendly way.

4. Do a fundraiser.

5. Use the community to facilitate an online discussion for parents.

6. Schedule a parent workshop.

To learn more about these or other options, please call Tara Canaway at (603) 577-1960 or see details about each of the above options online at http://www.rebrilliance.com/swcforeducators.html.