Ruth ruminates about our name

Sometimes people freak out about our name. This is what executive director Ruth Beaglehole says about the whole hulabaloo, and believe me, she knows a thing or two about having a weird name:

I often hear people say: "The word nonviolent! I am not a violent parent! I do not need to go to that place - thats for that kind of parent." When I tell people about our classes at the Center for Nonviolent Education and Parenting, they give me a look that says... change the name! It has been 8 years of questioning about the name, and we're still talking about it! And yes, we are holding on to the name. It can be hard to explain, and yet it is an opportunity to talk about what is the root of our parenting: raising our children with care, to be emotionally healthy, and to have empathy for themselves and others, which is raising children to care. The work of helping our children to become the caring and empathetic adults that we envision is what we call Nonviolent Parenting. In this conversation, we have a chance to discuss what is personal for ourselves - for me it is guiding children to be able to feel their feelings and needs and to be able to name them. It has to do with discipline, praise, consequences, and yes there is spanking... do I get into all this when I am first sharing about nonviolent parenting? Maybe, maybe not... but I do want everyone to understand that it is based on scientific research about attachment and brain development; that ultimately nonviolent parenting is the optimal way to relate to a child. And yes, we are envisioning a social movement for children based on the rights of children... phew! do I have to say all of that!!! - No. We only need to share what feels comfortable for us and in that way we are contributing to the acceptance of the word nonviolence!
- Ruth