The AFISA Elements Newsletter by Adele Frost, M.Ed.
https://www.AdeleFrost.com
Hello there, AFISA Elementors!
July is Parenting Month
Hot summer days and heat waves in July are perfect for lazy days and vacations. It's also mid-year and a great time to reflect then regroup for the second half of the year. As much as I wanted to work on my personal life, my family life took the forefront for many reasons the first half of the year.
This leads me to the topic of Parenting ā this monthās feature. Parenting can be two fold: you can parent your children and you can parent your parents. Yup... being sandwiched in the middle of two groups who need you can be uplifting and stressful.
So what do we do?
10 THINGS TO DO IN THE MONTH OF JULY ā PARENTING MONTH
1. Assess what is your responsibility and what is not your responsibility. With young children, it was my responsibility to ensure their needs were met. I also decided what I could provide in terms of their desires and dreams. As my children got older, I encouraged them to take on chores in the home to contribute towards the household. I encouraged them to work and financially pay for their food, gas, incidentals, desires and future savings. On the flip side, my parents made their decisions of their expenses and life style. To date, as both age groups grow into their next chapters of life, I am learning what is my responsibility and what is not. Assess and decide on what are really your personal responsibilities.
2. Assess what you can control and what you cannot control. I raised my children as best I could up to this current stage of their lives. My parents have also set their standards and boundaries of what they wanted/want in life. I must accept the decisions that they are making and let go of the control. Certainly, I may provide information and educate them on a topic but most often I cannot control the ultimate decisions of my loved ones. Let them do them and let you do you. (Thank you Mel Robbinsā¦)
3. Providing support by cheering them on and honoring the struggle. I will readily admit to prayer and meditation as I watch my children and my parents make decisions that seem unreasonable or risky to me. I will admit some decisions have worked in their best interests and other decisions provided a lesson they either learned from ā¦or not. I must remember that the choice an individual makes is an opportunity for them to advance and learn. The opportunity can be a great opportunity or a bad opportunity. Either way, it is an opportunity for the person to learn. My role as a parent is to be there to support them. Certainly, Iāll intervene if health and safety are concerns which frankly is rare. The majority of the time, I need to remember, just like letting the caterpillar struggle through the metamorphosis of becoming a beautiful butterfly, my greatest support is being there when they transform from the struggle. The greatest support sometimes is honoring the struggle and cheering them on to transform and/or succeed.
4. Make choices on how best to support your children and your parents, especially when they ask. The choices I make are what I can give and what I choose to give. I do not need to give my all, all the time. I donāt even need to give. I get to choose as a parent how best to support my children and my parents. Letās face it, we can all ask for the moon and see what we get. I try to find the balance of giving and self-care. I find that although money is an easy option, time with my loved one is my well-spent choice. How can you best support your children and your parents if they are still living? No children nor parents? As a mentor, how can you show up for someone who may need a little support?
5. Listening to the stories. This is the time for my children and my parents to open up conversations with stories of old that are typically every motherās nightmare. Good, bad, and funny stories make way for awesome memories with family members. Discussions on how they got away from the situation only slightly scathed can be lessons learned that everyone can benefit from. It also builds bonds and deepens relationships when you hear the stories that people went through. Schedule a time with family or friends to listen to good, bad and funny situations that can provide different perspectives of who your loved ones are. Walk in their shoes for a few hours.
6. Showing gratitude. Summer seems to be a relief of some major expenses so every now and then, I gift my kids something. Youāll laugh but giving my children my bank card to go grocery shopping has been my latest way to show gratitude. Now Iāll admit, the $300.00 grocery bill did occur and has not occurred since. After that event, my kids are given a total bill monetary limit to purchase general groceries for the family. Some of that money can be used to purchase healthy items (new health bars, protein powders, supplements, gluten free options.). They can also treat themselves to a desired snack. When the kids get home, theyāre excited to have been able to shop around for what they want then try their food of choice. They appreciate the opportunity and the reward. I appreciate the fact that they grocery shopped for me, especially as Iām writing this newsletter! How I gift my parents is with my time and a meal out for lunch or early dinner. Itās a quick visit, we catch up, maybe run an errand and itās time to go home. Iām sure to give a hug and say an I love you. Who can you give time and a treat to? A neighbor? A co-worker? The mail worker? Sometimes a hello, a comment and a compliment is the best time and gift to give! Make it count!
7. Sharing Dreams and Taking Action. When youāre sitting around a camp fire, lying on the beach, driving on the road or drinking tea in a quiet area, donāt you dream a little? Sharing those dreams can provide some perspective and realization of how those dreams can come true. Maybe you can even get some support from your children, your parents, your family, your friends, your co-workers or acquaintances. July is the time to realize our potential. Itās the time to organize our thoughts and align our dreams with action. What can you do this month as one step towards a dream that you have? How can you support someone elseās dream?
8. Shopping - Christmas in July. Haha! Yes! I am āONE OF THOSE PEOPLEā (eye roll please)ā¦ admittedly, I start my Christmas shopping in July. Why? Shopping deals, yes, but I also have time to reflect on the desires of my children and my parents. I ask them what they want in July for the time (and money) to shop for those items. I want to be thoughtful with the gifts I give so I start earlyā¦in July. How can you be planful and thoughtful for the holidays?
9. (Segway pleaseā¦) Schedule those Social Events! The summer is the time for socializing! Itās funny. As I age, I want to stay home more. Thereās an effort to go out into the community. Donāt be shy. Take advantage of the warm and sunny weather to get outdoors - walk with a friend, go to a patio restaurant and eat outside, drink tea on the porch with a friend, play a sport, etcā¦ socialize! If someone asks you, go! If you need to coordinate ask! If you need friends, join a group!
10. Try Healthier Foods. Sensing a theme here???? With local farmerās markets, fresher produce and outdoor events, try some different foods that are healthier choices. Youāll be surprised what is out there and may even find a new food that you like! Share the food with your children, parents or friends during Parenting Month!
CHALLENGE
Go to one event that seems interesting and try a new food that is healthy.
EVENTS
Join me on July 17th at 3:00pm EST to discuss the bridge from pain to personal development = the AFISA Elements Personal Health Plan Tool.
In this webinar, I'll discuss the research and strategies of well-being that I discovered on my path of personal development. I'll introduce you to the Personal Health Plan tool and show you how through my program you can overcome your pain, be productive and happy again. Register for the event here:
Join me on July 24th at 3:00pm EST at my Fun & Quick workshop, The Identity Card Game!
The Quick & Fun Identity Card Game for Life Vision is a tool that helps you create an identity card for yourself and/or gain further clarity in the things that are most important to you!
This game will
* clarify your Life Vision goals
* help you identify the character / role of who you are
* help you identify the character / role of who you want to be
* confirm your Life Vision course
* serve as an Identity Card for daily inspiration and motivation
* help you realign your goals for this upcoming quarter
Here's the page to register: https://www.adelefrost.com/identity-card-game
Here's the Amazon link to my Identity Card Game chapter in the book, The Life Coach's Tool Kit Volumne 3, created by Erik Seversen with 27 World-Class Experts!
SCHEDULING FOR SUCCESS!
Join me on Saturday mornings at 8:00am EST or Sunday Evenings at 7:00pm EST to Schedule Your Week for Success. Check out the weekly Zoom links under the Events section on my Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AdeleFrostLifeCoach/
PRODUCTS
My students/elementors use these sheets and planners for MAXIMUM clarity and daily focus of weekly strategies to obtain goals in their Life Vision. It's available for purchase on my storefront link on Etsy: https://www.adelefrostllc.etsy.com
Here's the direct link to the listing: https://adelefrostllc.etsy.com/listing/1686591668/digital-afisa-elements-scheduling-for
EXTRAORDINARY LIFE VISION DAILY PLANNER
Use the AFISA Elements process of organizing your annual goals through the AFISA Elements Scheduling for Success Worksheets and the Extraordinary Bundle of the Life Vision Daily Planners July-September 2025!
Here's the digital planner link on Etsy: https://adelefrostllc.etsy.com/listing/1878020174/digital-july-august-september-2025
PROMOTIONS
Anyone who signs up for their first session of Life Coaching with me will receive the Scheduling for Success Packet for FREE, as well as, the Extraordinary Life Vision Daily Planner for that month or the next for FREE! Book your 1st Life Coaching Session Now! Here's the link: https://www.adelefrost.com/offers/gorFeTSv/checkout
RESOURCES
WEBSITE - ALISON.COM
Hereās a gem of a resource that I wish I had when my kids where growing up. Take FREE classes on parenting through this website. You can also get certified in many different topics, especially healthcare topics! Certainly a website to look at for sure! Hereās the link:
https://alison.com/course/positive-parenting-skills-and-techniques?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=530823757&utm_content=1349103287858417&utm_term=kwd-84320103229180:loc-190&msclkid=1c81b114e10515df9e71d97107364234#google_vignette
BOOK
Parenting with Love and Logic: Teaching Children Responsibility
by Foster Cline and Jim Fay
A classic for all parentsā¦
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=parenting+books+love+and+logic&adgrpid=1341404752434442&hvadid=83838011850276&hvbmt=bb&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=44774&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=b&hvtargid=kwd-83838146849131%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=7442_13182868&mcid=6c984bf8609d36358e55194c2ae14aa9&msclkid=9724b0bce5c019fa0f73d8d903f3d57a&tag=mh0b-20&ref=pd_sl_ujd1ewqrq_b
BOOK
by Daniel G. Amen, MD , Charles Fay PhD, et al.
This book is one to consider. Many school systems implement these techniques. Ask your kids!
https://www.amazon.com/Raising-Mentally-Strong-Kids-Neuroscience/dp/1496484797/ref=sr_1_13?adgrpid=1341404752434442&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.EBtsp1nVJ4_NAw11R3EFjHZvU1dCvf6TkBG91hxtOsCHHKgwjpMy62qq8fWmk2WpU-9ek-zcaY_k84Gbqup0aTui5TYlWLZEoL7Gvj6_lHrK-97WezAwmFn4NKF-oSjzPtI47dkfT_9_aBatcKp5EUEv8Gfy8GFRH4TlOwa9YOaNEB08TQr221bIrD4QGrSKKgKeMnghx1_sia_zWV1xFC3ICkmwWy_MjFlSCv7yQoI.fcRRycL5hPI6Zaw1-XJpH6Sai9uMRiFPPr9Bvs7l60A&dib_tag=se&hvadid=83838011850276&hvbmt=bb&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=44774&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=b&hvtargid=kwd-83838146849131%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=7442_13182868&keywords=parenting+books+love+and+logic&mcid=6c984bf8609d36358e55194c2ae14aa9&msclkid=9724b0bce5c019fa0f73d8d903f3d57a&qid=1751508844&sr=8-13
IN CONCLUSION
If you're reading this last section, whoo hoo! I love it when my Elementors go that extra mile and play full out! Reach out to me via email for more discovery on any of these events, topics or lifecoaching! [email protected]. Iām in the process of creating new things for you and Iāll always take suggestions!
Your Life Coach Extraordinaire,
Adele Frost, M.Ed.
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