"I couldn't believe I had to be in this class. How did things get so out of control? One minute I am trying to work two jobs and hold things together and the next I'm called off my job because Wesley, my ten year old, hasn't been going to school and was caught hanging out at some house with these older kids. Bottom line, the charge was underage drinking and truancy and the magistrate said me and Wes had to get some counseling. I have to make sure he is in school and now I have to enroll in parenting courses!

I don't have a car and all I could think was here I go, two buses somewhere, at night, in the cold…what a mess. One of the women who works in the magistrate's office told me that in that same building Family Resources held parenting classes – mostly for parents like me, whose kids are getting into trouble or those who don't have the parenting skills and support to keep their kids in line. Well, at least that was good – I wouldn't have far to go.

These classes were nothing like I thought – the leader of the group told us what she was going to do and what she expected from us and then told us the rules of the group. Nobody got to cut down my ideas – everyone was heard – we were encouraged to share our feelings, our problems with our kids and with the communities where we lived – people actually listened to me and offered advice. I actually started to look forward to coming. And some of the things I was taught to try actually began to work with Wes."

Darla, mom