Prolific Author Brings Voice, Insight To Spokane
For those who commiserate with “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” or laugh at the unusual friendship of “Rosie and Michael,” don’t miss the opportunity to hear Judith Viorst speak at the Family-a-Fair Spring Lecture. Her talk will be April 19 at 7 p.m. at the Ridpath Hotel in downtown Spokane.
Viorst, prolific author of beloved books for children and adults, will be speaking on “Parenting Our Children from Newborn to Thirty-Year-Old and Beyond.” With humor and poignancy, she touches on the joys and heartbreaks of parenthood and the way children transform our lives.
The Family-a-Fair Spring Lecture is offered for the first time this year in addition to the annual Family-a-Fair convention Oct. 19-20.
Tickets are $6, available at Holy Family Hospital, Children’s Corner Bookshop, Auntie’s Bookstore or by calling (509) 482-2477. Free child care will be available for the first 50 children who are registered by phone.
Tickets will also be available at the door for the same price, as seats are available.
Easter egg extravaganza:
The 16th Annual Easter Egg Hunt for children 10 and under is Saturday at 2 p.m at Riverfront Park, sponsored by Spokane Parks and Recreation Department and Riverfront Park. Participants should meet at the Clock Tower Meadow at 1:45 and bring a basket for their booty.
Parenting workshop:
For parents who feel stuck dealing with a particular age or recurring problem, or for those with questions regarding their parenting, Saint Joseph Family Center presents a workshop, “Growing Up Again: Parenting Ourselves, Parenting our Children,” Tuesdays, April 9 through May 14 from 6:30-8:45 p.m.
The course, based on the book by the same name by Jean Illsley Clarke, focuses on bridging the gap between self-care and parenting.
“We learn to see clearly how we can parent ourselves and parent our children,” says facilitator Mary DeLateur, “especially for those who want to break the chain of unhelpful parenting.”
The course examines setting rules, nurturing relationships, teaching values, communicating clearly and more.
Registration is $50 per person; $14 for the course book. Call (509) 483-6495.
Etiquette enrichment:
“Dining Skills” is a course which teaches children proper party and table manners, addressing topics such as party planning, making proper introductions, invitations and thank you notes, responsibilities of the host and guest, and American-style dining behavior.
“This course allows kids the opportunity to be comfortable in these areas that tend to be tense,” says etiquette consultant Merrily Bjerkestrand. “These are life skills you are giving to your kids.”
The four-week session for teens 13-17 is on Tuesdays, April 9-30, 6-8 p.m.; and for children 8-12 years on Thursdays, April 11-May 2, 6-8 p.m.
Classes are held at Patsy Clark’s restaurant, culminating in a “graduate tutorial meal,” a multi-course dinner where parents may dine with their children to watch their newly acquired skills in action.
Classes on general etiquette are also available. For fees and information, call Bjerkestrand at (509) 467-2897. , DataTimes MEMO: Send Family Track items to Lynn Gibson, Features Department, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615, or fax (509) 459-5098.