Naturally, parents want to protect their children at all cost from the pain associated with change and loss, but wonder if that’s even possible. Finding the language and learning what to anticipate is ‘half the battle’ when helping kids face divorce, moving, mommy going to work, welcoming a baby brother or sister, not being invited to a birthday party, facing grandparents’ declining health, or the death of a pet or family member. The recent hurricanes and floods create challenges for the most experienced parent when children ask the inevitable questions.

The forum for discussing these normal developmental stressful life events is a lively dialogue. Parents are, at once, invested and passionate; the evening is upbeat, informative and fun. Many groups request a book signing Maria Trozzi’s book,TALKING WITH CHILDREN ABOUT LOSS, following the lecture.

I found the evening quite informative and affirming! I learned about do-able strategies I could go home and start using that can and will create opportunities for my children and teens to become more resilient as they face what Trozzi refers to as ‘inevitable speedbumps of growing up!”

Constantly hearing words like, “war”, “weapons of mass destruction”, “high terror alert”, and “bioterrorism” can be confusing and unsettling for children. As we enter a new era in our country, children are being exposed to more and more thanks to the media and internet. Kids have different ways of understanding information based on where they are developmentally. How a 6 year old understands the words he/she is hearing versus how a 14 year old interprets the news is very different, leading us to wonder how we help our children feel safe. This workshop gives teachers the skills and strategies of how to best answer children’s questions about these times, and how to settle their fears.

II. Strategies that Build Resilience in our Children as they face Stressful Life Events”

Of course, parents want to protect their children at all cost from the pain associated with loss, but wonder if that’s even possible. Finding the language and learning what to anticipate is ‘half the battle’ when helping kids face divorce, moving, breaking up, not making the team, not getting into your first choice school, grandparents’ illnesses, or the death of a pet or family member. The forum in which I discuss these normal developmental stressful life events is a lively dialogue. Parents are, at once, invested and passionate; the evening is upbeat, informative and fun. Many groups request a book signing for my book, TALKING WITH CHILDREN ABOUT LOSS, following the lecture.

“Mom, get out of my life…but first, will you take me and Melissa to the mall?” This confusing but familiar line dramatically defines the ambivalent and often difficult struggle teens and their parents face during adolescence.

Maria Trozzi will explore these normal developmental stresses that adolescents face as they lose their childhood and move towards adulthood. Often, adolescents are required to cope with any number of situations, ranging from when Barry breaks up with Susan (even if they “went out” for only days….or hours!), being on the outside of the “in” group, not making the varsity soccer team, leaving the safety and familiarity of the middle school, not getting into their chosen college. At times, the problems seem overwhelming and the solutions seem out of reach for both teens and their parents.

How can parents and other caring adults help? When should they get involved? When is it interference? What techniques generally stop communication? What approaches work most of the time?

And, given the lives of dual working parents, hectic schedules for both parents and kids, and few if any opportunities for “family times”, what “real life” strategies can adults employ that create a base of support for their teens during the many “crises” they face?

Finally, what specific tools can parents use that will ultimately have the greatest impact on their teens’ lives: to assess the many risks that alcohol, drugs and sex present to our teens and assisting them to move beyond their peer group’s influence to make safe choices.

Maria Trozzi combines insight, research findings, plus experience of parenting of two teens, and humor in her talk to parents and other adults who care about teens!

AN EVENING WITH MARIA TROZZI:

Words, Strategies and Wisdom that Build Resilience in Families with Children with Special Needs

Maria Trozzi, M.Ed., Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine, Director of the Good Grief Program and author of TALKING WITH CHILDREN ABOUT LOSS, will discuss the stresses that our families face as they deal with the often complicated tasks of living with a child with a disability. She has recently concluded a two-year research study, funded by a regional center for disabilities in Los Angeles County, that explores the stresses, both obvious and hidden, that can sometimes feel overwhelming and never- ending.

She will offer strategies for help parents to understand and cope, particularly at identified ‘touchpoints’ in the developmental life of their child. She will share her nationally recognized conceptual model for working with educators that helps them ‘walk in the parents’ shoes’ in order to understand and transform even the most difficult and challenging parent/educator relationships.

Lastly, Maria, a typical sibling of a brother who is disabled, will offer insights for helping siblings cope with the losses and gains inherent in a family with a child with special needs. Her book, TALKING WITH CHILDREN ABOUT LOSS, (Putnam-Penguin) will be available for a book-signing.

The Good Grief Program
1 Boston Medical Center Place, Mat 5
Boston, MA 02118
Phone: (617) 414-4005
Fax: (617) 414-7915
E-Mail: mtrozzi @bu.edu