Empowering 4 Purpose, LLC

08/28/2025

04/02/2025

April 2nd: World Autism Awareness Day

04/01/2025

Child Welfare Information Gateway
Child Abuse Prevention Month has been observed each April since its first presidential proclamation in 1983. Since that time, millions of Americans have participated in this national campaign to bring families and communities together to prevent child abuse and neglect.

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For more information, contact: Children’s Bureau | 800-394-3366 | info@childwelfare.gov

For more information, visit: childwelfare.gov/preventionmonth

04/01/2025

Autism Society of America
Every April, Autism Acceptance Month celebrates the diverse and varied experiences across the Autism spectrum. The Autism Society of America promotes acceptance to create the connections for everyone in the Autism community to access the unique services, supports, and information to best serve their needs.

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For more information, visit: AutismSociety.org

04/01/2025

CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION

Participate in Blue Ribbon Week!!

03/29/2025

Cycle of Avoidance

12/02/2024

The Garden Metaphor (Family Therapy):
Example: In a family where parents are constantly stepping in to “fix” their children's problems, they may inadvertently teach their children to rely on others for solutions rather than encouraging autonomy. The child might grow up feeling incapable of managing challenges on their own and seek out relationships where they expect others to take care of them. Over time, this pattern could repeat through generations, with each new generation relying more on others to set boundaries and manage their lives.

Generational Risk: This creates a family culture where each member lacks the skills to establish and maintain healthy boundaries, leading to dependency, frustration, and enmeshment. The garden becomes overcrowded, with no room for each person to grow independently.

Solution:
Encourage individual growth while maintaining connection. Each family member should have their own space to grow, make mistakes, and learn. In practice, this could mean respecting a child’s autonomy by allowing them to make decisions and face the consequences (within reason), while still being supportive. For example, a parent might say, “I trust you to figure this out, but if you need help, I’m here.”

Breaking the Generational Pattern: Parents who have historically over-involved themselves in their children's problems can start by offering support rather than control, creating space for the child to take responsibility. This approach helps break the cycle of dependency, encouraging the child to develop confidence in setting their own boundaries and making independent decisions.

12/02/2024

Healthy Boundaries in Marriage NOT Walls


Example: Consider a couple where one partner learned growing up that to be loved, they had to constantly sacrifice their own needs for the sake of others, perhaps because their parents modeled self-sacrifice without boundaries. In their marriage, this person might continue this pattern, neglecting their own needs and allowing their partner to dominate decision-making, thus weakening the relationship. Their partner might not even notice because it's a familiar dynamic.

Generational Risk: This could lead to an ongoing cycle where the next generation learns that relationships are based on sacrifice without mutual respect for individual boundaries, making it harder for them to establish healthy, balanced relationships.

Solution:

Strengthen communication and mutual respect. To keep the bridge strong, partners need to talk openly about their needs, limits, and desires. For instance, if one partner feels overwhelmed and unable to speak up, they might say, "I need some space to recharge" or "I need us to make decisions together." Each partner should also listen and respect the other's boundaries, understanding that setting limits does not weaken the relationship — it strengthens it.

Breaking the Generational Pattern: If one partner learned from childhood to prioritize others' needs over their own, they can start by acknowledging their feelings and asking for what they need, knowing it doesn’t mean they are selfish. This modeling teaches the next generation that healthy relationships involve mutual respect, not sacrifice.