Lately, I’ve been feeling the squeeze and just feel a bit stressed. It seems as if we all are. I’m hearing stories from my kids about teachers losing their cool at school and students treating each other quite poorly. I feel the strain in my own home as I see we’re all quick to snap at one another. We are typically a very active and social family, but COVID has made us rethink how we live our lives. We forgo the get-togethers with other families unless it’s a very small or outdoor event (which proves difficult during winter in Portland), and we just don’t have the social interactions and community engagement we once did. I, like many others, am hoping that all changes soon, but in the meantime, I’ve located some resources that can help connect us with other people and learn how to manage this crazy time in the world better. Most of these offerings are virtual, but some are in person, in a scaled-back fashion to maintain safety amid the most recent COVID surge.

There are many online classes and workshops that are designed to help parents connect and learn new skills. Gone are the days of meeting up with mommy groups and sharing stories and parenting tips while your kids play mask-free amongst each other. It used to be so lovely to get out of the house and chat with other adults who were going through similar experiences. While we can’t meet up in person as freely as we once did, that doesn’t mean we can’t connect with other parents.  

Parenting Together Washington County has put together opportunities for parents at all stages to connect and learn from professionals as well as one another. For those of you with new babies, you can join the Virtual Support Group Series. This program is designed for parents and caregivers of babies 0-6 months old. Topics include how to soothe your baby, manage stress, sleep for babies and caregivers, and local resources. The Making Parenting a Pleasure series is designed for parents and caregivers of children 0-8 years old. It is a 12-week zoom class that starts on February 2nd and covers various topics, from aligning parenting with your values and goals and responsive communication to effective discipline strategies. Also beginning on February 2nd is the Strengthening Families series. This course is for parents and caregivers of children ages 10-14. The course is designed for both the child and adult to participate in and will cover topics tailored to both groups. For the adults, the focus will be on learning and practicing strategies that will help you effectively parent tweens and teens. For the kids, the discussion will be around how to handle stress, anger, and peer pressure in positive ways.

Clackamas Parenting Together is another resource to help connect and learn in the community. They are offering a Parents Night Out series which is geared towards parents of 10-16 years olds. It is a six-week session that takes place on Thursday nights starting February 10th and ending on March 17th. The series addresses challenges and strategies for raising teenagers in this fast-paced world. It is an in-person event held at Clackamas River Elementary School, and dinner will be provided. They also offer a virtual option for those who can’t make it in person. Another class being offered through Clackamas Parenting Together is for the guys and is titled Fatherhood: The Art of Being a Dad. This group meets virtually on Wednesday nights and is an excellent place to learn skills and strategies to take your dad skills to the next level! It’s designed to teach you some parenting strategies and help you connect with other dads of kids ages 0-8 years old.

Another place you can find some great parenting resources is The Family Connection. They are based in Southern Oregon and offer free parenting workshops on the third Monday each month. The sessions are designed to have one hour of teaching followed by a 30-minute question and answer segment. Each month will be dedicated to a different topic. February will cover “Family Love Languages,”  the topic for March is “Active Listening as Communication,”  and the list goes on from there. They are looking to cover everything from safety to sibling rivalry and family conflict. I know my family could undoubtedly benefit from some tips on that topic. I don’t know if it’s because we have four kids or if it’s just our competitive spirit, but the sibling rivalry is palpable in our house.

I really appreciate these resources because they are free and there for everyone to participate in. Counseling and Family Therapy can be costly, and it’s so hopeful to see people working to make quality resources available to everyone.