Choosing Positivity
Welcome to our new readers, especially those who found us through our presentation “The Power of Cultural Wisdom” at the California Alliance of Child and Family Services Conference in Anaheim earlier this month. We look forward to partnering with you!
announcements
From Eye Rolls to Real Talk: Parenting Teens & Tweens
Friday, October 3, 2025
12 PM to 12:30 PM PT
Parenting tweens and teens can feel like navigating a minefield of mood swings and eye rolls, but it doesn't have to be. At this workshop, we'll cover practical strategies to help you move past the daily frustrations and build genuine, open communication with your child. This session is designed to give you concrete tools for understanding their world, setting healthy boundaries, and fostering a strong connection that lasts.
Power Without Struggle
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
1 PM to 2 PM PT
Online
We are presenting a virtual workshop called “Power Without Struggle” for the Center for Children and Youth. You’re welcome to attend!.
Discover effective strategies to end power struggles with your children.
In this workshop, you will:
Understand the root causes of power struggles and their impact on your family.
Build a stronger connection with your children to reduce conflict.
Identify your own triggers and learn how to manage your reactions.
Learn proactive techniques to prevent power struggles before they start.
Gain practical tools for navigating and de-escalating tense situations.
This workshop offers valuable insights to help you create more harmonious interactions and foster positive communication within your family.
39th Annual Children’s Network Conference
Ontario Convention Center, Ontario, CA
October 15–16, 2025
This October 15, we're honored to present our signature workshop "Healing Through Cultural Wisdom" at the San Bernardino County Children’s Network Conference!
This event is a cornerstone for professionals across the Inland Empire—including those in social work, mental health, and child welfare. The conference aims to equip local professionals with the latest research and practices to better serve children and families in the community, and we're so excited to be a part of it.
Interested in attending?
the heart of the matter
The dads arrive at the community room around pick-up time on Fridays. They wear UPS uniforms, construction boots, or painters’ overalls. They grab a cup of water or coffee, and start chatting in English, Spanish, Arabic, and sometimes Tigrinya. We don’t have official translators - we figure it out with the folks we have in the room. We find a way to communicate. The dads are exhausted from a hard work week, but eager for connection, and excited to transition back into father mode.
For the past few months, I’ve had the pleasure of running workshops for fathers at FACES, a family resource center in San Francisco’s Bayview neighborhood. Their kids attend FACES’s Early Childhood Center. The rhythm of our fathers’ group is simple; we check-in, I teach a positive parenting tool, they pick up their kids from childcare, we practice the tool in a live play session, and then we eat. Connection, play, pizza - a timeless recipe for magic.
We had a small session last Friday; only two men were able to make it. This meant that we could have an intimate session and get to know these dads well. My co-facilitator Kevin and I had planned a session around a tool called Your Attention Is the Sun, which is about noticing and giving positive feedback to our kids for their good behaviors. To put this tool in practice, we designed an activity that would make the men naturally want to give instructional or corrective feedback.
We invited their daughters - one three and one five - to paint designs on flower pots. We knew the dads would want to give instructions on how to mix colors, the right amount of paint to apply, and keeping paint off their clothes (I made sure we used washable paint). Sure enough, a precocious three year old applied paint like cream cheese frosting on a carrot cake. Her dad, Ernesto, started to instruct her to use less, but made eye contact with me and stopped himself. In order to refocus his own attention, he asked for an additional pot that he could paint himself. He offered a stream of encouragement to his daughter as he brushed his own artwork according to his desires.
A dad at FACES helps his daughter place a flower in her painted flower pot
Francisco, the dad of a 5-year-old, is most comfortable speaking Spanish. Ernesto translated the instructions for us. As Francisco’s daughter started painting her pot, he couldn’t resist giving her corrective instructions. Ernesto came to our aid again, reminding “Positiva” several times with a smiling tone. Francisco stopped coaching and a little later I heard him offer supports like “Oh que bonita!” or “Lindo!”
We set the flower pots out to dry, then enjoyed pizza, chit chat, and free time. Right before closing, the dads helped their kiddos transplant flowers and soil into the pots. Each father and daughter went home with a masterpiece of art, nature, and the confidence that comes through praise and support.
We are starting a new school year; I know it will be full of adventures and challenges in my work and with my family. Sitting with these fathers that afternoon, I had a deep sense of the meaning of the work I am privileged to do. I was reminded that I was called to this work to create spaces like this one, where families can find more joy, calm, and meaning. I’m excited to continue to grow this work and root it in love.
we’re obsessed with
I’ve mentioned this before, but I was reminded about cooperative board games this morning. My youngest son pulled out Space Escape, one of the games from Peaceable Kingdom. We spent a fabulous half-hour working together to help our mole rat characters avoid snakes and get into the escape hatch of our spaceship. It doesn’t make sense to me either but dang we had a good time.
He took out the board game because we’ve recommitted to screen-free Sundays. This is a day to detox from phones and computers and spend time connecting, reading, or exercising. Don’t get me wrong, the kids hate the idea. They bitch and whine every Sunday morning. I always get called out for looking at my phone - “but I’m reading the New York Times!” Then we pull out Battleship or a soccer ball and remember that we know how to do this and we don’t need the bells and whistles of an iphone or Netflix to entertain ourselves.
Sheet-pan dinners pair well with the return to school when I’m looking for dinners that are easy, tasty and healthy. Here’s a great chicken fajita recipe for taco Tuesdays.
where we’ve been
As part of DCYF’s 2025 School Readiness Series, we're thrilled to have offered two powerful workshops: "Supporting Spirited Kids (Including ADHD)" and "Healing Through Cultural Wisdom."
These workshops were designed to help youth development professionals feel more confident and prepared for the year ahead. Not only did they refresh skills and update practices, but they also sparked a wave of enthusiasm, setting the perfect tone for a successful school year!
Last week, we delivered a dynamic workshop at FACES. We gave dads and other father figures the tools they needed to create a more joyful family life. We provided simple techniques to help connect with kids, get better behavior, and discover the fun in every day. The workshop also brought together fathers and caregivers from the FACES community, creating a network of support.
We presented “The Power of Cultural Wisdom” at the California Alliance of Child and Family Services Conference in Anaheim. This workshop explored the vital role of cultural wisdom in strengthening and supporting BIPOC families. Participants learned how to move beyond traditional models and integrate culturally-grounded practices that honor the unique strengths, traditions, and resilience within diverse communities. This session provided actionable insights for professionals seeking to create more effective, equitable, and affirming services that truly meet the needs of the families they serve.
Book a workshop for your school or organization.
Bring The Village Well to your school or organization. We provide powerful, interactive and fun workshops for parents and/or staff. Learn more.
Ed Center, the founder of The Village Well, is a parenting coach and educator certified in the Triple P method. The Village Well is a community of parents in BIPOC families, focused on attaining more joy, calm, and meaning in family life. We coach parents to prioritize their own healing and wellness, deepen connections with their kids, and learn tools to support better behavior. Services include Parenting workshops, Parenting courses, and community events. Our support is culturally-grounded support and honors your unique family. Ready to stop yelling? Schedule a free consultation with one of our team members.
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