We had the good fortune of connecting with Shanna-kay Arellano and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shanna-kay, what matters most to you?
Motherhood is extremely important to me. It can be so tough and overwhelming when you have to not only regulate your own emotions but your children’s emotions as well. So, helping parents but mothers specifically find the belief behind their children’s “bad behaviors” is something I hold close to my heart. There’s a quote from Jane Nelson that says “You don’t have to make children feel worse in order to make them do better”. Many times I find that parents use discipline as a way to shame, blame and beat their children into submission, myself included. Then I would realize that after yelling, screaming, and hitting I didn’t feel like a great parent because my actions were not aligned with my personal values. That was a clear indication that I needed to change my perspective on discipline and instead use discipline as a way to teach instead of punishing.

What should our readers know about your business?
I want the world to know that Connected Corrections is a company based on the belief in positive interactions and connections with your children while they are children. Growing up in a Caribbean household screaming and hitting was part of the norm. That later had a negative impact on my personal relationships (parents included). Through Connected Corrections I want parents to also understand the belief behind their children’s misbehaviors. So many parenting classes are structured around guilt rather than awareness. However, in my workshops, we acknowledge there is no such thing as a perfect parent and respect parents making the first step towards change. In my interactive workshops, parents learn: how to connect with their children, how to not make yelling a go-to discipline strategy, and how to end the power struggles in their homes.
My journey as a classroom teacher has also influenced my experience and ability to facilitate workshops in an engaging and relatable way. The journey hasn’t been easy but watching how these workshops mend and repair family relationships has been worth every obstacle.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Wow anyone that knows me knows that I love good food and good music. It’s also a bonus if I can squeeze in an outdoor view. One of my favorite places to visit here in the Atlanta area is Rock Steady. It gives a feel of home in South Florida. They have a Haitian- Caribbean-influenced menu with Reggae/ Afro-Beats music always playing and setting the vibe. The lounge upstairs is also a great place to do a nightcap. I’m also one helluva a host. So coming by my house for dinner and some karaoke is defiantly going to be on the itinerary.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to shout out Jane Nelson, Lynn Lott, and the Positive Discipline Association for creating a community dedicated to parents who want to discipline their children in a mutually respectful manner. Learning about positive discipline has helped me not only change my home life but also help me build deeper connections with my children. I’ve also been able to help other families and teachers do the same.

Website: https://www.connectedcorrections.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/no_perfect_parents

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