Portland Parents

At the Expo Center! Everybody Party!

Part of the Parenting For the 21st Century series, presented in partnership by the Lewis & Clark College Center for Continuing and Professional Studies and Portland Parks and Recreation.

When a romantic twosome evolves into a step-couple, challenges arise that can take people by surprise, from coping with visitation schedules to differing parenting styles. In this session step-couples will learn to anticipate and recognize the challenges, and to effectively address them by negotiating a co-parenting plan.

Presenter Susan Wisdom, LPC is a therapist who specializes in counseling divorcing adults and stepfamilies. She is the co-author of Stepcoupling: Creating and Sustaining a Strong Marriage in Today’s Blended Family. Presented in partnership with Portland Parks and Recreation.

Sellwood Community Center 6-8PM Mar 15
Southwest Community Center 6:30-8:30PM, April 9

Sessions are $10; call (503) 768-6023 to register.

Part of the Parenting For the 21st Century series, presented in partnership by the Lewis & Clark College Center for Continuing and Professional Studies and Portland Parks and Recreation.

On a daily basis more than 160,000 girls and young women nationwide report missing school out of fear of aggression from other girls. Girl-to-girl aggression manifests as social alienation, exclusion, and hostility such as spreading rumors, intimidating glares, “backstabbing” and physical violence. This session provides an overview of relational aggression and its prevention.

Annette Klinefelter, M.Ed, is the executive director for Girls Incorporated of NW Oregon, a not-for-profit organization which inspires girls to be strong, smart and bold. Presented in partnership with Portland Parks and Recreation.

Sellwood Community Center, 6-8PM January 29
Southwest Community Center, 6:30-8:30PM March 22

Sessions are $10; call (503) 768-6023 to register.

Part of the Parenting For the 21st Century series, presented in partnership by the Lewis & Clark College Center for Continuing and Professional Studies and Portland Parks and Recreation.

Working mothers—especially those with young children—are expected to be superwomen, an admirable but doomed pursuit. In fact, husbands and children fare better when mom puts herself first. Learn how to deal with guilt, pressure, over-commitment, romance, self-care, volunteering, work, and the subtle hostility of women who don’t work. Learn how to ask for help, find childcare, protect the sanctity of your work and the sanctity of your home.

Presenter Louise Lague, MA NCC, is a former editor of PEOPLE magazine who made a midlife transition into psychotherapy. Author of The Working Mom’s Book of Hints, Tips, and Everyday Wisdom, she now specializes in midlife issues. She is an adjunct professor at Lewis and Clark Graduate School of Education, where she teaches Counseling Women in Midlife. She has a private practice in Northwest Portland and Lake Oswego. Presented in partnership with Portland Parks and Recreation.

Sellwood Community Center, 6-8PM March 19
Southwest Community Center, 6:30-8:30PM April 26

Sessions are $10; call (503) 768-6023 to register.

Part of the Parenting For the 21st Century series, presented in partnership by the Lewis & Clark College Center for Continuing and Professional Studies and Portland Parks and Recreation.

Baby Boomers will be the first generation to live longer without children at home than with children at home. While this new life may feel liberating, we have no example of past generations to draw on in this new role. Do you redecorate the child’s room? How do you parent a distant child? How will the marriage fare without the distraction of children at home? In fact, studies shows that once they’re over the first hump, empty nesters are happier than they expected to be. Learn how to make that happen.

Presenter Louise Lague, MA NCC, is a former editor of PEOPLE magazine who made a midlife transition into psychotherapy. Author of The Working Mom’s Book of Hints, Tips, and Everyday Wisdom, she now specializes in midlife issues. She is an adjunct professor at Lewis and Clark Graduate School of Education, where she teaches Counseling Women in Midlife. She has a private practice in Northwest Portland and Lake Oswego. Presented in partnership with Portland Parks and Recreation.

Sellwood Community Center, 6-8PM February 26
Southwest Community Center, 6:30-8:30PM April 19

Sessions are $10; call (503) 768-6023 to register.

Part of the Parenting For the 21st Century series, presented in partnership by the Lewis & Clark College Center for Continuing and Professional Studies and Portland Parks and Recreation.

Girls often are induced to use alcohol, tobacco and other drugs to become or stay slim, manage stress, appear mature, be popular with peers of both sexes, or to escape overwhelming problems. Because many of these pressures are more prevalent for girls than boys, standard prevention programs can be ineffective for girls. This session presents the most recent research into the complex web of female drug and alcohol use.

Annette Klinefelter, M.Ed, is the executive director for Girls Incorporated of NW Oregon, a not-for-profit organization which inspires girls to be strong, smart and bold. Presented in partnership with Portland Parks and Recreation.

Sellwood Community Center, 6-8PM April 23
Southwest Community Center, 6:30-8:30PM March 8

Sessions are $10; call (503) 768-6023 to register.

Did you know the City of Portland has made playgrounds smokefree? Please join the Multnomah County Tobacco Prevention Program in saying “thanks!” Our Coalition will be delivering Valentines to the City Council meeting on Feb. 14, and we need YOUR HELP to get lots of valentines.

If you would like your children — and their friends — to participate, please print out this Smokefree Valentine that the children in your life can decorate and sign, put them in a stamped envelope, and send them to

Smokefree Valentine
Kylie Meiner
426 SW Stark, 9th Floor
Portland, OR 97204

If you or someone you know smokes, this is a great opportunity to encourage them to quit: the free Oregon Quit Line is 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

The 31st Annual Peter Rabbit Breakfast benefits the West Linn Community Preschool. There will be a Pancake and Sausage Breakfast from 8:00-11:00am, Photos with Peter Rabbit, Raffle, Silent Auction and Carnival 8:00-12:00pm with fun and games for all ages! To purchase your tickets in advance please call 503-657-5050

Date/time: Saturday April 07, 2007 8:00am to 12:00pm
Location: West Linn High School 5464 west A street West Linn OR 97068
Cost: Adult $5.00 in advance or $6.00 at the door Child $3.00

Part of the Parenting For the 21st Century series, presented in partnership by the Lewis & Clark College Center for Continuing and Professional Studies and Portland Parks and Recreation.

US Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne recently remarked, “We need to inspire a nation to escape their Blackberries for the satisfaction of actually picking a wild blackberry.” His comment encapsulates the alarming disconnect between children and nature, especially in today’s urban society. This session will present the most up to date research on how contact with green spaces can be used to reduce ADHD symptoms and improve the well being of children and teens, as well as explore some controversies and myths regarding wilderness therapy.

Presenter Thomas Joseph Doherty, Psy.D., works with adults and teens in his psychology practice and has a special focus on the urban dwellers’ sense of place and relationship with the natural world. His background includes experience in wilderness therapy, river guiding, and environmental work. He is active in the Oregon Psychologists for a Sustainable Future and is the chairperson of the Public Education Committee for the Oregon Psychological Association. Presented in partnership with Portland Parks and Recreation.

Sellwood Community Center, 6-8PM April 16
Southwest Community Center, 6:30-8:30PM January 25

Sessions are $10; call (503) 768-6023 to register.

Part of the Parenting For the 21st Century series, presented in partnership by the Lewis & Clark College Center for Continuing and Professional Studies and Portland Parks and Recreation.

When a child experiences the death of a beloved pet he/she may experience emotional reactions that can be painful and frightening. This is often a child’s first significant experience with loss. This loss lays the groundwork for future losses, therefore it is very important to help a child have a healthy grieving process. The main tasks to make their loss a healthy experience are:1) understanding, 2) grieving, and 3) memorializing. Enid’s presentation will include ways to help your child achieve these tasks. There will also be time provided for questions and answers.

Presenter Enid Traisman, M.S.W. is a certified grief counselor and founder of the DoveLewis Pet Loss Support Program which she has been facilitating since 1986. DoveLewis is a non-profit 24-hour emergency and critical care animal hospital which offers free pet loss support groups. Presented in partnership with Portland Parks and Recreation.

Sellwood Community Center, 6-8PM February 12
Southwest Community Center, 6:30-8:30PM March 1

Sessions are $10; call (503) 768-6023 to register.