Lorrie Lewandowski learns new things every time she teaches at The Parent Project. But with her children already grown, she can’t always put her learning to use.

“When I get the opportunity to teach, I do learn each and every time,” she said. “I am looking forward to applying some of the skills as a grandparent.”

Lorrie Lewandowski of The Parent Project. Courtesy Photo.

As a program director/coordinator, Lewandowski brought The Parent Project to Wood County in 2003 to help parents of teenagers.

“Parenting is one of the hardest jobs in the world and it is one for which we get little or no training,” Lewandowski said. “Anytime you can offer [a class] to parents to help them in the job of parenting, I believe, is a benefit to the youth and the families and also the community.”

For parents of youth ages 12 to 18, The Parent Project offers sessions for a $20 fee, which parents can get back if they attend all eight required classes. The first two classes last three hours, the rest for two hours.

Children whose parents are taking the class are admitted free to a separate, concurrent class for youth.

Topics include reducing family arguing, improving school performance, identifying alcohol and drug abuse and helping with rules and discipline, according to a news release.

Almost a decade later, 337 parents have attended sessions, Lewandowski said.

“The information we learned from the sessions is priceless,” a family who completed the class said in a statement. “This class has empowered us to make positive changes in our family dynamics.”

A winter 2013 session is scheduled. Classes will take place at Glenwood Elementary School, 8950 Avenue Road, in Rossford, on Tuesdays from Jan. 8 to March 12. If interested, contact Lewandowski at the Wood County Educational Service Center at (419) 354-9010, ext. 113.

More information is provided at www.parentproject.com.

Tags: Lorrie Lewandowski, Parenting, The Parent Project, Wood County

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013 at 2:10 pm and is filed under Community, Family, Parenting.
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