• Parenting with the End in Mind: Consider what kind of 18-year-old you want to "graduate" from your home. This perspective helps guide daily choices and helps you avoid taking the "easy road" just to get everyone to bed.
• Preserving Dignity: Use a "litmus test" for your responses: if a partner treated you in a similar fashion, would you feel respected and your dignity remain intact?
• Identifying Core Values: Clarify your family values—such as a preference for thrifty, reused items or introverted activities—to help make clear choices about how to spend your time and energy.
• Building a Support Network: Align yourself with other parents and caregivers who have similar goals, which helps lighten the load and builds your personal resilience.

• Reputable Organizations: Connect with EarlyON centers (in Ontario) or local family resource centers that provide evidence-based skill building and reputable information.
• Parent Education Programs: Participate in courses that teach long-term strategies, such as those offered by Muskoka Family Focus, to learn things you didn't even know you needed to know.
• Direct Inquiry: If you don't have the words yet to search for help, reach out directly to the team at parented@muskokafamilyfocus.ca for keywords and resource recommendations.
• Community Connection: Join the On the Ground Parenting community on Patreon to engage with the hosts and other listeners. patreon.com/onthegroundparenting

This episode also serves as a special platform for the Muskoka Family Focus Parent Ed team to request support, either with a direct donation through Canada Helps, or by signing up for our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/OnTheGroundParenting.

Subscribe for a new podcast every Wednesday! Have a question, suggestion, or want to sponsor an episode of On The Ground Parenting? Send us a message: https://linktr.ee/onthegroundparenting