Move Aside Mr. Groundhog

Feb 1, 2017 | Shine a Light

So February has some important dates to remember:
Valentines Day (14th)
Bartenders’ Ball  (11th- show up to support this year’s recipient CAPTAIN Youth and Family Services)
Presidents’ Day (20th …and start of a school break for many)…
and of course
Groundhog Day (2nd… we haven’t really had winter yet, but I’d be OK with an early spring).

So tomorrow we’ll be talking about whether the groundhog predicts an early spring or more winter, but here’s something to think about all month long. It’s Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Talk to your kids about signs of abuse in a relationship… and what constitutes a health relationship. At Wellspring, we want everyone to have healthy relationships. Sometimes it’s confusing to discern when everyday behaviors cross the line into controlling. This month we’ll be sharing some tools to increase awareness, start the conversation, and give you some resources if needed.  Let’s start with discussing boundaries and consent.

Not every healthy relationship looks the same.  However, every healthy relationship does need safe communication, trust, boundaries, and mutual respect. Being on the same page is important, you want  to make sure that both you and your partner want and expect the same things.  Everyone should feel comfortable setting boundaries as they see fit, and these boundaries may change or adjust as the relationship evolves. Having open communication regarding your boundaries in a relationship creates respect and ensures that  each person’s needs are  being met. Check out Wellspring’s video about consent to start the conversation.