I gotta tell you that every year as those of us on the conference staff of ATN go through the proposals for workshops for our upcoming conference, I get SO excited! This year is no exception. Yesterday we waded through the truly fantastic topics and speakers and had to narrow them down to a number that fit into our three-day schedule.

This year’s Parenting Traumatized Children conference (June 26-28 in Andover, MA) is shaping up to be the best one yet. Our conference chair has found a location, the Franciscan Center, that is truly an affordable and relaxing retreat center. Many of our attendees commented on their preference of having communal meals included in the pricing, so we don’t have to worry about additional expense and we can meet other parents. So, this center is happy to oblige. To make the deal even sweeter, attendees can stay at the center, in dorm-style rooms, for FREE! Granted it’s like staying in your college dorm and sharing the bathroom with the girls up and down the hall. But there is likely not a more economical way to get the latest information on parenting children with trauma and attachment problems.

I’m excited that the whole conference will be kicked off by Dr. Kathy O’Loughlin, an adoptive parent who left her career as CEO of a large dental insurance company to become an advocate for children’s mental health issues in Massachusetts. Read her story here. Kathy is an awesome example of a mom making lemonade out of all those lemons that adopting children with unknown special needs can bring.

I’m equally excited that we’re trying a “Feelin’ Good Friday”, where the entire afternoon sessions will be dedicated to self-care options and ideas, including just a chance to hang out with other parents and therapists who live with the challenges of helping traumatized children every day.

This has been a shameless plug for the conference. But it’s hard for me not to shout to the world how awesome the ATN Parenting Traumatized Children conference is. Sure we have very informative workshops where you can learn so much, but the greatest value comes from meeting other people who are living similar lives. Knowing you’re not alone and sharing ideas is so rejuvenating.

So, check out the conference details at www.radzebra.org. I wouldn’t wait too long though, our registrar tells me her phone has been ringing all week (and those free spaces are limited).

Photo Credit