By Cain Madden

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — For parents struggling with questions, Cathedral School will feature a nationally acclaimed parenting expert who may provide some answers today and Friday.

Cathedral Elementary School Principal Shannon Bland said the school’s parent organization has been looking into someone who could speak to the area’s parents, and they knew John Rosemond had presented in the Jackson Diocese in the past.

“We were just trying to come up with things we could do to help parents, or to just give them some good ideas for raising our children,” Bland said. “The parents, the schools, the community, we are all kind of in this together.”

Rosemond is the nation’s leading parenting expert, said Kelley Gay, president of the Cathedral Parent Organization. He is a family psychologist, nationally syndicated columnist, best-selling author and is an internationally recognized speaker.

“We are thrilled to host John and believe all parents will benefit from hearing him speak because John believes in getting back to the way parenting was in the 1950s where parents were more authoritative and in total control,” Gay said. “All of his teachings are based on Scriptural principle, which make it all the more valid and influential.”

Bland said modern-day parents often find it easier to give in to what their children want, but that approach can often hurt the child.

“You don’t even realize you are doing it,” she said. “It’s not like parents are intentionally trying to do the wrong thing.”

For example at dinner time, today’s children are often provided a menu of options.

“Before, you just had dinner,” Bland said. “Now, we kind of just give them what they want because it’s easier. We are all exhausted by the end of the day, because we are pulled in a million different directions.

“But that ends up hurting the children, as well as the school, because now they feel like they should get their way all the time.”

Rosemond’s approach is to go back to the basics.

“Children need to understand that the parents are the ones that make the decisions in their best interest,” Bland said. “Children always ask why? Well, one of his points is, ‘Because I said so.’”

And his presentation will not be all about him standing on a stage and reading a Powerpoint presentation.

“He’s very dynamic, very personable,” Bland said. “He wants to be down in the crowd talking with the parents. He really enjoys the question-and-answer part of the session.”

Bland emphasized that this is not just for parents who send their children to Cathedral.

“We want to have this be a community event and are expecting a big turnout,” she said. “We want to make sure that everyone who wants to hear him speak will have an opportunity.”

Thursday’s presentation will be at 6:30 p.m. titled “Parenting with Love and Leadership: From Tots to Teens.” On Friday at 9 a.m. Rosemond will present on the topic, “You’re More than Just a Mom.”

Both events will be in the Cathedral Elementary School’s multipurpose room.

Rosemond has been married for 46 years to his wife Wilma, is a father of two adult children and grandfather to seven. He has lived in North Carolina since 1974.