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In a week we will be leaving for Massachusetts to attend the ATN conference. I am excited. This is the third year we have done this conference and it has been wonderful every time.
If you haven’t signed up to attend, why not?
What makes the ATN conference different from other conferences is that it is focused on helping parents who are living with traumatized children. Therapists and social workers can benefit as well, but parents are the ones who benefit the most.
Aside from the sessions, parents love being able to talk to other parents who understand what their lives are like. Many times you can hear games of “top this” going on. They are quite funny. One parent will start with something that their child has done, and another with chime in with something similar that their child did, but it was one step higher than the previous story. It is not a competition, but rather a way for parents to vent frustrations and find ways to laugh about it.
Among the laughter is the group of therapists from the Attachment Institute of New England (AINE). I have known these amazing people for the last three or four years and I never fail to laugh when I spend time with them. My face usually hurts from laughing. Part of what makes them great therapists and so much fun to be around is that two of the four therapists have parented kids with attachment issues themselves. They understand our lives and the challenges we face on a day to day basis.
This year there is something different for parents. We have “Feelin’ Good Friday.” This track of sessions is geared specifically toward self-care. Not only are we telling parents that they need to take care of themselves, we are providing them with the tools to do so as well as the time.
The silent auction also offers the opportunity to pick up some wonderful thing to pamper yourself, or treat yourself to a day out. From beauty products, to zebra theme items to sports tickets, there is something to please everyone.
The conference is being held in Andover, MA, just north of Boston at a retreat center. We have had one other conference at a facility like this and it is incredibly relaxing. This is a time to relax and renew, along with developing some new tricks to try out next time your child throws you for a loop.
Come join us in Massachusetts for a great time. There’s this time to sign up.
Photo credit – Kelly L. Killian
A shameless plug! But this really sounds like a fun break and a chance to learn some new tricks.
Yes, and everyone should be there, shameless plug or not.