A little bit about Don MacRae
Not long ago I was invited to a meeting at a high school. They wanted my perspective about a young man, 15 year-old James, who beat up a kid on the bus. At the meeting, there were a few teachers, some mental health folks, James and his mom. The family had been living in New Orleans but lost their home in Hurricane Katrina and moved to Wisconsin to live with relatives. I heard a number of explanations about “why” he was so angry and troubled. James, who was facing the prospect of being kicked out of school, just defiantly glared. Midway through the meeting, I’d had enough. I went over and sat next to James. I looked him in the eye and told him I didn’t like the way he was disrespecting his mother by acting like a manipulative ass. I gave him my phone number and told him to call me when he wanted to fulfill his potential and left the meeting.
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Halibut Cove, Alaska |
I have been working with families for twenty-five years. I have run a child and adolescent inpatient psychiatric unit, a large residential treatment facility, created in-home therapy and youth mentoring programs, provided clinical consultation, facilitated multi-family groups and done thousands of hours of outpatient family work and parent coaching from the Midwest to the northern reaches of Alaska.
I have Masters Degrees in Psychology and Business; I am a licensed Professional Counselor and Clinical Social Worker, business owner, leadership mentor and have co-written grants that have raised over $2 million for prevention and youth training programs.
Every day I work with kids. The talents and gifts they have are incredible. But their anger and manipulations and maneuverings often get in the way and prevent the discovery of all that untapped potential. It is amazing how they seek structure and boundaries while defying the rules and dare people to have high expectations for them while pretending they do not care. They need a strategic helping hand to find their way.
I am a parent advocate. It is powerful, fearless parents who have a clear vision who will keep their families healthy and teach their kids to thrive in a world that can be both a fabulous adventure and dangerous. Parents find me mostly by word of mouth. They have heard I will be tough on them, hold them accountable and teach them how to change the behavior of their sometimes savvy, defiant, troubled kids who are headed down the wrong road. Parents appreciate the fact that I believe they are the experts for their family. It is the reason parentwarrior was created.
About James: a week later he called me. He said I reminded him of his Aunt Ida. Apparently she was the only one who ever expected the best of James. He said he wanted a chance to earn his way into an alternative education program. I told him to be careful what he asked for because the behavior he showed in the meeting would not be tolerated. He said, “I just want to be successful.” I said, “Rock on. That is a great first step.”
