Really good thing happened

[Boat Babe]

I recently offered to volunteer for a local DV charity. Had a great phonecall with the woman who runs it then never got round to doing the paperwork (I am the Queen of Procrastination) but I started visiting their FB page and posting encouraging stuff/sharing info. Today, the boss emailed me, asking if I would like to do some paid work for them. Designing and delivering a parenting course for mums who use the service. Their whole service is, amazingly, trauma informed, so all the stuff we talk about here is bang on relevant and what they want to offer. I am gobsmacked!

If anyone has a social work /psychology background, please provide links to useful sites for ideas and resources. I have a Teaching background so I can design and deliver a course, no problem but it's a new professional subject for me! Unfortunately I have extensive personal experience of the subject.

I am properly stoked about this. The opportunity to use my professional skills and my personal passion to liberate myself and others from abuse is a total gift. And they're going to pay me. And they asked me!

[Sapling]

Congratulations Boat Babe 

This is wonderful news! I'm so happy for you.

How amazing that you will get to be a part of other people's healing journey. 

[Hepatica]

That is totally amazing Boat Babe! You will be a fountain of knowledge in this. There is nothing better than a "wounded healer" who can speak about something they really and truly understand with compassion. If I can think of any resources I'll come back and put them here.

[JollyJazz]

Awesome Boatbabe!!!

So fantastic that you have this dream job!!! Cheering for you!!!! 😊🎊🎉🙌

[1footouttadefog]

The VA caregiver websites, and the sections about families dealing with ptsd and such used to have some good information.  There may be some related to Domestic Violence in various state and federal websites as well as University websites.

Such info would typically be in the public domain as well.

[Stillirise]

Fantastic!!!  There are those of us here, who can relate to trying to parent a child who has been abused, or has witnessed abuse, while trying to heal from abuse ourselves.  It's a Herculean task, and it is so wonderful that you can be a resource for these people!

My first instinct is to send them to the toolbox, so I'm not much help for additional resources. 

From my meager attempts at finding resources, I've found: 1.  Lots of resources about learning to parent after being a victim of childhood trauma yourself.  2. Lots of resources on helping children who have been abused, from the standpoint of teachers, counselors, foster families, etc.

I think you could be onto something big.  There seems to be a void in helping women who have taken the heroic steps to save themselves and their children, then want to learn better ways of coping and parenting.  (Actually stopping the abuse cycle.)

Best wishes to you! Please continue to share with us here.

[Call Me Cordelia]

Congratulations, Boat Babe!!! What a perfect job. I bet they saw your caring and knowledge from your posts on their facebook page.

Stillirise, what are some of the better resources you recommend for #1?

[Stillirise]

Stillirise, what are some of the better resources you recommend for #1?

I'm certainly not an expert, but have you read:
Parenting with PTSD: the impact of childhood abuse on parenting, by Joyelle Brandt

Or Pete Walker's book,
Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving: A Guide and Map for Recovering from Childhood Trauma

I should have clarified, there are many more books about recovering as an adult from childhood trauma, and in turn, becoming a better parent.  It seems like there's a void when it comes to parents who want to help their own children overcome their trauma, before they become adults. 

[Boat Babe]

Thank you all for your very kind words and encouragement. Muchly appreciated.

I am thinking that this parenting course will be very specific as the parents will be traumatised as will the children. Heck of a responsibility!!!

[sevenyears]

 
that is awesome. congratulations!

[Call Me Cordelia]

Thanks, I had not heard of that first book!

[Amadahy]

Congratulations, Boat Babe!!  Well done!!  We are so happy for you and excited to hear how it goes -- keep us posted!       

[bloomie]

Boat Babe - what a wonderful opportunity to bring help and healing to others out of the pain of your past! This is fantastic news! Congrats!

[SparkStillLit]

That is the schnitzel! Let us know how it's going!
(I'm using all of my Gram's sayings as much as possible. If I've been rude, tell me. Schnitzel is nothing but delicious sounding meat as far as I know, but if this means something bad, say so. She used it like "the bees knees").

[Poison Ivy]

Schnitzel was my favorite food when I was a child, so I think this means a good thing.