LEWISTON — Six new Mainer mothers living at Hillview Family Development recently completed 24 sessions in the Nurturing Parenting Program for parents of infant, toddler and preschool age children.

The program was supported by federal funds through the Safe Schools/Healthy Students grant and the L&A Fund. Program collaboration was accomplished through Advocates for Children and the Lewiston Housing Authority and staffed by the Early Childhood Prevention Coordinator and the Ameri-Corps Vista volunteer.

The parents learned about parenting strategies as presented in the Nurturing Parenting Programs designed by Dr. Stephen Bavolek. The concepts of discipline, empathy, power and independence, developmentally appropriate expectations and the expression of one’s feelings were explored. The parents learned more about local cultural norms as compared to their traditions and customs.

One participant, Mouna K., said, “I did get many things that never came up, like how to discipline a child, how to make house rules and how to manage life without frustration. Nurturing yourself was an all so very important part to do. One day you gave us an example and you said, ‘if you were in an airplane and the pilot said, put the oxygen mask on yourself before you put it on your child.’ I didn’t understand what you meant, but when you explained to us by saying that you have to nurture yourself before nurturing your children, husband or other  family members. Like if you don’t take care yourself you won’t be able to take care another person, and then something clicked in my brain, I started to think and told myself that I am a person that always gives without asking nothing back. I realized then that I need to pay more attention to myself so I will maybe live longer without stress.”

The participants were also introduced to community partners including Lewiston Public Schools, Healthy Families Androscoggin, Tri-County Mental Health Services, Literacy Volunteers of America, The Dempsey Center, local physicians, The University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service, Lewiston Police and Fire departments and Head Start.

This is the first time a Nurturing Parenting Program has been facilitated with the new Mainer population in Lewiston. Advocates for Children is hoping to partner with Lewiston Housing Authority and other local providers to share the program with more new Mainer parents in the future. If interested in participating in a Nurturing Parenting Program, call Advocates for Children at 783-3990 for more information.