Ann Douglas will be delivering a keynote address and offering a small-group workshop at this popular parenting conference for parents in BC. You can register via the Vancouver Island Parent Conference website.

Keynote description: Happy Parents, Happy Kids

Parenting doesn’t happen in a bubble. As parents, we can’t help but be affected by what’s happening in the wider world. Is it any wonder then that so many of us are feeling anxious, guilty, and overwhelmed? In this thought-provoking presentation, Ann Douglas highlights the broader cultural forces that have made everything about parenting feel incredibly high stakes. Then she pivots to solutions, explaining how parents have the unique opportunity to serve as agents of change in their families and their communities. Her takeaway message is clear, powerful, and potentially life changing: you can tame the anxiety, embrace the joy, and thrive alongside your kids while building a better world.

Workshop description: Parenting Through the Storm

“Having a child who is struggling doesn’t make you a bad parent, just as being a child who is struggling doesn’t make your child a bad kid.” That’s a powerful and reassuring message to hear if you happen to be the parent of a child who is struggling with anxiety, depression, ADHD, an autism spectrum disorder, or a related challenge. In this encouraging and story-rich workshop, Ann Douglas shares some of her own hard-won wisdom about thriving as a family while weathering one of life’s many storms (the focus of her book Parenting Through the Storm). The workshop is based on interviews with more than 50 parents who have walked this walk and who are eager to share their best advice with other parents. Expect a workshop that is kind, encouraging, and real and that leaves you feeling anything but alone.