Parenting guru speaks with Pendleton families

Famed parenting expert and author Fred Becker met with Pendleton parents to address child-raising hardships during a workshop at the base’s San Luis Rey Officer’s Club, Feb. 18.

More than 50 residents attended the Chaplain’s Religious Enrichment Development Operation Parent Management workshop and listened to the popular parenting guru’s guidance and developmental techniques.

“Effective parents are parents first and a child’s friend second,” said Frederick B. Becker, leading parenting consultant, famed author and founder of the Becker Institute. “If things are not going right at home, don’t wait until they become a crisis,” said the Carlsbad-native.

Audience members were frequently involved in role playing scenarios and interactive activities to help parents understand and rethink communication and disciplinary methods.

“Raising children in the military is tough,” said Becker, a father of two. “Acting as a single parent with the other deployed is very difficult. Yes, this is also present in the civilian community but this is magnified in the military, especially in the Corps,” he said.

The Becker Institute’s one-day workshop also emphasized and explained how to adapt conventional techniques in today’s evolving society.

Today’s children live and communicate in virtual worlds, said Petty Officer 1st Class John K. Simokat, religious program specialist, Chaplain’s Religious Enrichment Development Operation, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

There has been a generation shift, and as parents, many of us get frustrated because we were never taught the necessary tools and techniques to be successful, Simokat said.

“Change is constant, as your children change, so must you and your parenting style,” said Becker. “If you don’t change, your child can’t.”

In one day, Fred will show you how to raise a child effectively using tips no one else is using, said Simokat, who has attended all of Becker’s workshops on base since the program’s inception in 2007.

Children often struggle with mom or dad deployed for seven to 13 months at a time. CREDO hosts these workshops to provide these parents with the knowledge and tools they will need to be effective parents, he added.

“Don’t leave the fate of your child up to peer groups, media and the social norm, because if you don’t raise your child, they will,” said Becker.

For additional information, contact Camp Pendleton’s CREDO office at (760) 725- 4954 or log onto their Web site http://www.cpp.usmc.mil/chaplain/credo.

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