Parenting never ends Published Nov. 17, 2011 By Senior Airman Whitney Stanfield 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Searching for ideas to enhance your relationship with your children? The 4th Medical Group (MDG) family advocacy office provides support for all Department of Defense families. The Family Advocacy flight provides education and support services for all parents in the New Parent Support Program. Their goal is to provide continual learning for parents to grow with their children, in hopes of a smoother pathway for parenthood and growing families. "Parenting skills and setting limits is what I learned from going to a parenting class myself," said Marcia Sampson, 4 MDG family advocacy nurse manager of the new parent support program. Classes are often offered as a part of the program, such as stress and anxiety management. This class teaches techniques on how to reduce stress before dealing with a child and promote a healthy lifestyle. Having a seat, walking away, taking deep breaths or counting to ten are all stress relieving techniques to calm a person down so he or she can react with a clear mind. "The goal is to strengthen parents, depress factors that may cause you to yell and to enhance the parental support during pregnancy," said Sampson. The New Parent Support Program is one of the many programs the family advocacy flight offers teaching parents the 'Golden Rule,' to each treat others the way you would like to be treated. They encourage parents to spend time with their kids and to make a special connection even during pregnancy. The message family advocacy hopes to relay to parents in the program is to care, love and nurture their children, so the children will know how to give that to others as they grow. "Family advocacy is here to help in any situation, so let us help you," said Sampson. The family advocacy team networks on-and-off base to find useful resources for military families so they know there is always someone to talk to. For those who do not want to attend a program, there are handouts available on growth and development, potty training, age appropriate discipline and sibling arrivals. For more information on their services call 919-722-1878.