OCR Text |
Show rTMF s August 13, 2009 'Growing up' for grown-ups Hal Runkel teaches base families how to be 'ScreamFree' parents BY CATHERINE CORNETT Hilltop Times correspondent P arenting can be one of the most difficult, most frustrating and most valuable skills to employ and learn as you grow with your child. Comedian and actor Bill Cosby once said, "In spite of the six thousand manuals on child raising in the bookstores, child raising is still a dark continent and no one really knows anything." CATHERINE CORNETT/Hilltop Times Luckily for parents, there is Hal Runkel, therapist, one book that offers a new aprelationship counselor and proach to raising children. It's author, speaks to parents at called "Scre^mFree Parenting," and it's written by Hal Runkel, a the Base Theater Aug. 5 on "ScreamFree" parenting skills therapist and relationship coach and how to achieve them. who also founded ScreamFree Living Inc. "You're not responAside from writing books, Runkel also travsible for your kids," he els around the world delivering presentations on how everyday parents can learn to develop added. Instead, Runkel emphasized that our a "scream-free" relationship with their chilchildren should be redren. Just recently, Runkel visited Hill Air sponsible for themselves, Force Base and spoke to a crowd of military that way they learn to parents who were seeking a scream-free way deal with the consequencto raise their children. es they make. As Runkel began speaking, it was quite Does this mean parents can just sit back clear that he wasn't your usual parent. He started out by describing the first of'his "Five and watch? "No, of course not. Your first job as a parent," RjUn^elsaid, "is to just stay calm." Truths Every Parent Needs to Know." Staying calm gives you an amazing sense of Truth No. 1: Parenting is not about kids, it s authority, which in turn helps you guide your about parents. "My kids are not my whole life," Runkel ex- children and doesn't undermine your authority and, most especially, the respect your children plained. "That wouldn't be fair to them." have for you. Though most parents might beg to differ, Runkel pointed out that making your kids your "When we lose it, 'it' is our adulthood," whole life leads to them feeling entitled, which Runkel stated. Disconnecting from the situacan become a big problem for you as a parent tion is just as bad as getting upset, he added. If and also presents problems when they're in parents are getting angry, they can create situthe "real world." ations they actually want to avoid. Kids twin HM- We need to take care of ourselves first, even as parents, Runkel said. This may seem selfish, but it's necessary, which" is why he came up with his second truth: ^^'itli;i^3ti•y->iili•'•Ji^•'. Truth No. 2: Growing up is hard%rdoj' especially for grown-ups. Runkel pointed out that parents are raising adults, not kids. "How is telling them what to do going to help them grow into a woman or a man?" he asked. The obvious answer is that it prevents them. To begin treating children like adults, no matter how young, Runkel suggested parents * See SKILLS I page 11 Digging up some historical treasure Reunion research uncovers photo of Hill's first 'Mechanic Learners' BY LEE ANNE HENSLEY AND DAVE KENDZIORA Hilltop Times staff writer Ogden Air Logistics Center historian A s Jennie Hohman and LuDean Jensen, both retired civilians from the Ogden Air Logistics Center, went through the tedious task of locating early aircraft maintenance technicians who worked at Hill Air Force Base to let them know about a reunion planned for Aug. 27, the pair came across an article from a 1971 edition of the Hilltop Times about the first civilian mechanics at Hill Field in 1941. The article was titled "Mechanics enjoy 30 year reunion" and Hohman and Jensen knew, this would be the starting point of contacts for their reunion roster. "The minute I looked at the article, I thought, 'If we were ever going to get everyone together, this would be the time/ " Hohman said. Hohman and Jensen used many resources to track down the 28 gentlemen in the 1971 Hilltop Times photograph of the first Civilian Mechanic Learners class of 1941, at what LEE ANNE HENSLEY/Hilltop Times was then known as Hill Field, to invite these LuDean Jensen (left) and Jennie Hohman flank Dee Forbes, who holds a photograph taken in 1971 for a Hilltop honored guests to the reunion. After speakTimes article about the first Civilian Mechanic Learner class in 1941. Forbes was a member of that class and ing with OO-ALC Historian Dave Kendziora, Jensen and Hohman, all former mechanics at Hill Air Force Base, are arranging a reunion for their fellow retired See PHOTO 1 page 11 mechanics Aug. 27 at the Hill Aerospace Museum. |