Kia ora koutou katoa,
It’s been lovely getting out and about over the last couple of weeks to meet some of you with the Independent Children’s Monitor teams – Caregiver Feedback sessions and with the Family Fun Days. It was awesome to be invited to the Otautahi Foster Care Association morning tea last month, to meet members, some of whom I have known from my previous role. Thank you, Angela Swinney for the warm welcome and fun times. Having to think of food starting with E was not easy!
Marney Holthouse
Canterbury Regional Coordinator
0800 693 323 or 027 501 0392
Last week we managed to slip in our Family Fun Days and I hope those who were able to go enjoyed the bowling in Christchurch and the Movies in Ashburton and Timaru. I would like to thank Angela again for stepping in for me and welcoming and supporting the bowling event which allowed me to travel south and meet some of our Timaru members attending the movie.
Events Coming Up
Yay, we’re putting on our annual Back to School BBQ event and the Waipara Wipeout in late January. Keep an eye out for more details coming soon for these popular events.
Training
Last month we had a great group attending What’s Behind the Behaviour-Healing Cantered Engagement in Christchurch, and the online training opportunities are growing in popularity for those wanting to attend from their homes. Keep an eye out for our emails with training coming up next year.
I feel the year is quickly coming to an end and with the uncertainty of how we might be affected by COVID-19, there has been little time to reflect on what we may have achieved throughout the year or to celebrate as we may usually do coming up to Christmas. We need to be gentle with ourselves and PACE ourselves through any pressure we may encounter.
As this is the last message from me for this year, I hope you all have a happy and relaxing Christmas and break, and I look forward to getting out and about meeting more of you next year.
I thought I would share the analogy below that shows us an empathic approach to caring and nurturing the growth of something/someone special to us.
Empathy- (Author: Thich Nhat Hanh)
When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don’t blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertiliser, or more water, or less sun. You never blame the lettuce. Yet, if we have problems with our friends or family, we blame the other person. But if we know how to take care of them, they will grow well, like the lettuce. Blaming has no positive effect at all, nor does trying to persuade using reason and argument. That is my experience. No blame, no reasoning, no argument, just understanding. If you understand, and you show that you understand, you can love, and the situation will change.
Me tiaki, noho pai. Take care and stay well.
Marney
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