I facilitated a parenting workshop that invited participants to reflect on the qualities they believe make a good parent. Many of the parents in the group have experienced significant challenges—ranging from financial stress to past trauma—and are actively working to break cycles and create healthier homes for their children.

In the workshop, each parent was given a blank parent-shaped template to decorate with messages, words, and symbols that reflect their values and parenting goals. Some included affirmations like “I listen without judgment,” “I show love through actions,” and “I am learning, too.”  As they worked, conversations unfolded organically. One parent shared, “I didn’t grow up with this kind of love, but I’m doing it different for my kids.” Others nodded in agreement, and a sense of solidarity emerged in the room.

At the end, several participants expressed how powerful it was to visualize the parent they are becoming. “It reminded me of why I’m doing the work,” one parent said. The templates became more than art—they were declarations of growth, love, and hope. One parent even mentioned she hung hers up at home as a daily reminder. This workshop created space not only for creativity but also for meaningful connection and self-affirmation.