PARENTING CLASS STARTS MARCH 31

Raising children isn't easy, but having a system to deal with stress and cope with parenting problems helps

That is the focus of a parenting class that will begin March 31 in Cape Girardeau.

"I think that parents do not have a system of raising children," said the Rev. Larry Gallamore of Grace United Methodist Church. "Consequently, they have a lot of stress because they don't really have any training."

Gallamore will teach the class, which meets for nine Sundays in the parlor of the church at Broadway and Caruthers. No class will be held Easter Sunday. The class is open to parents, including single parents. There is no charge. Babysitting will be provided at the church.

The class will focus on "Systematic Training for Effective Parenting -- A Positive Approach to Parenting."

Gallamore's doctoral work was in marriage and family counseling, and parent-child relationships. He has taught the parenting class a number of times over the years.

Gallamore said parenting is difficult because children don't come with training manuals. "Parenting is something that is on-the-job training,:" said Gallamore, the father of two children. "It is really difficult when you have to do it day by day," he said.

"I think it is more stressful today because the world is changing so rapidly and parenting requires a lot of flexibility to be able to accommodate the changes that are occurring," Gallamore said.