Jill Urbane is a Parent Educator, Social Worker who works with families with young children.  As a home visitor for almost 30 years, 

First and foremost, I am a wife and mother of two fantastic children. I, like so many others, am a working mom who is trying to figure out how to raise a happy family while keeping my own sanity. My undergraduate degree in psychology and masters degree in social work have done little to help me figure this out.

Don't get me wrong, I learned a lot about family dynamics, personality development, etc., but there is no coursework on how to raise children or how to maintain a happy marriage. This learning is done by trial and error.

As a result, the bulk of my experience in the area of raising children has come from my own life and ten plus years of being in the homes of families dealing with the same struggles. I see myself in every parent who asks me "what do I do to deal with ___________?" (fill in the blank yourself)

My actual work experience includes: 1) working in a psychiatric unit; 2) working as a prison counselor with adult male offenders (you know, murderers and rapists); 3) as a Children's Protective Services worker; and 4) as an Early Childhood Interventionist for a school system.

Needless to say, I have seen and heard it all when it comes to family dysfunction and personal crisis. Working with people in crisis has taught me that with the right support and someone who cares, even the most insurmountable obstacles and personal tragedies can be overcome.

While I have enjoyed all my former work experiences, I must say that I most enjoy working with parents. Perhaps it is because we have what I believe is the most important job on earth: to raise healthy, happy, and responsible children.

I also know that times have changed and we face MANY more obstacles than our parents did. I hope to empower parents with support, humor and guidance to find the parenting tools that work for them and their children. All parents have the ability to turn their ordinary family into an extraordinary family, but sometimes we need a little help along the way to figure that out.

#spirituality #parenting #purpose #clarity #mentalhealth #trauma #raisingkids #mentalhealth #energy #source #parentingwithpurpose