Welcome to Parenting Sweet!
Parenting Sweet is a resource for parents and caregivers, featuring all the great opportunities in our region that make parenting sweet!
In this issue, we explore how feeling like a failure as a parent is part of being a parent but we don’t need to let it get us down! We can use our failures to our benefit in many ways, and open the door to personal growth, healing, and deeper connection with our children. Plus, discover fun events and activities for the whole family! Upcoming Trunk or Treats, family fun, free and low-cost activities, playtimes and theatre, breastfeeding support, upcoming parenting education opportunities, and so much more are included in this issue of the Parenting Sweet.
Monthly Fun Poll: Your family’s favorite fall foods!
OCTOBER FEATURES:
Monthly Fun Poll
The Gift of Being a Flawed Parent
The Power of “Do-Overs”
Letting Go of Perfectionism
TRUNK OR TREATS!!!
October Parenting Workshops: Guiding Teens & Pre-Teens
New! Bristol Dad Support Group
ABOUT US:
5 Promises
Donate to Make Parenting Sweet!
Parenting Program Catalog
Parenting Sweet Webpage
Volunteer!
Parent Educator Network
Upcoming Parenting Opportunities
Contact Us!
PARENTING CLASSES / SUPPORT:
Free Parent Coaching
Babywearing Coaching
Baby Carrier Library
Attached at the Heart Parenting Program
Guiding Good Choices Workshops
Attached at the Heart Conversations
Parenting Sweet Meetups
MOMS-R-US Teen Pregnancy Support
Ahh Babies Breastfeeding Support
Free Prenatal Classes & Support
Prenatal Classes
Family Playtime
Strengthening Families
Project Dads
Grandparenting Workshops
YWCA Family Network
Free Therapy for Pregnant Moms
Growing Stronger Together Podcast
FAMILY FUN:
Scarecrow Skedaddle
PLAYtime in the ARTspace
Wildlife Weekend: The World of Bees
Schoolhouse Rock Live Jr.
Main Street Days Festival
Apple Festival – Unicoi Co.
Deery Days in Historic Blountville
CCDP Free Family Dinner Night
Daniel Tiger Fun Day
Mini-Golf at Steele Creek
RESOURCE EVENTS, CAMPS, & MISC:
Bristol Fire Dept Open House Day
Swim Clinic Ages 6 – 18
K-5 STEM Academy at SWVA HrEd
ETSU Fall Enrichment Camp
Postpartum Recovery Fitness Classes
Bundles of Joy Diapers
Infertility & Miscarriage Support
Looking for information or support?
Appalachian Promise Parenting Education Network Programs
Find a program that fits your needs! Click to search for free or low cost, morning or evening, online or in-person, first-time or veteran parent/caregiver, and more.
Appalachian Promise Alliance is Making Parenting Sweet!
We have tips, information, practices, and parenting classes, sessions, workshops, support groups, seasoned educators, and friendships that can help lighten some of your load and make parenting easier. Wish you had an extra hand? A little help? A hack that makes things a little easier? Wondering if doing something different would help? Check out the Parenting Educator Network opportunities below in the highlights.
Visit www.AppalachianPromise.org to learn more about: The Parenting Education Network, Bristol Family Resource Center, YWCA MOMS R US, Mom Power, Hope House, Frontier Health, Highlands Community Services, Breastfeeding Essentials, Ahh Babies – Appalachian Highlands Healthy Babies – La Leche League Breastfeeding Support, Cherished Mom, Attached at the Heart Classes, Twin City Reads, Buckle Up for Life, Doula by Donation, Sullivan County Family Services, Parenting Sweet, Tricities Parenting, Tricities Babywearing, High Country Doulas, ETSU Family Physicians, Bethany Services, TriCities Babywearing TN, Sullivan County Health Department, Strong Starts, TN Voices, and more.
Parenting Sweet helps us keep our five promises of caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, effective education, and opportunities to serve.
This Month’s Focus: Perfectly Imperfect Parents
Have you ever felt like a “failure” as a parent? You lost your temper. The house is a mess. Balancing work and parenting isn’t going so well. You feel like everyone around you has a picture-perfect family and you can’t measure up. Perhaps your young child is on a sleeping strike, or maybe it’s an older child that’s getting into trouble at school and doesn’t want to talk to you about it. We have encouragement for you in this issue. Below are some of our favorite resources for embracing our imperfections and growing as parents.
Podcast Episode: The Gift of Being a Flawed Parent
We love this discussion of how our “flaws” can actually be a gift to us and to our children. The moments where we feel like we don’t measure up can actually be opportunities to learn something about ourselves, understand our child better, and press into those areas for deeper connection or personal healing.
The Parental Power of the “Do-Over”
We are constantly new at parenting, even if we’re parenting our third, fourth or fifth child because every child we raise is unique. We novices are on uncertain ground, and it’s impossible to always get it right, especially with parenting.
Fortunately, we don’t need to get it all completely right. I have a friend who calls not doing it all perfectly the gift of a flawed parent. It’s too much for children to live up to if you’re perfect. In fact, how we deal with our flaws models for children how to overcome and build resilience.
So we practice parenting, to get closer to the parent we want to be — and we want to be better parents. To help, we can practice and employ a fun approach called “do-overs.” Do-overs are good for us and good for our children.
What does a Do-Over Look like?
In learning and growing, children will have lots of stumbles and falls, and we will too. Practicing do-overs helps us get closer little by little to our intention.
Do-overs help us change the outcome. They can apply to both intentional or unintentional situations, giving the benefit of the doubt and consideration to other stressors or hidden issues, like hunger, being tired or sadness.
Do-overs show that we are not looking to punish the child for skills they are still learning. We are guiding them to learn how they can get their needs met while respecting the needs of others.
For adults, do-overs help us deal with triggers from our own childhood; they help to undo habits of yelling or using shame. It’s a moment to narrate and model for our children what we are doing and help them build their emotional and social vocabulary and skills. We might say, “You know, I really don’t like how I just said that. It will help me if I can back up and start that over again more calmly.”
The bonus is, if we still don’t have it right, we can, you know, ask for a do-over do-over.
Adapted from an article by Samantha Gray, Parenting Program Coordinator at Appalachian Promise Alliance. The full article appeared in The Bristol Herald Courier on April 10, 2022, titled, “On Parenting: Invoking the parental power of the do-over.”
Tips to Let Go of Perfectionism
We recommend this article by Martha Sears on turning perfection-ism into “good-enough-ism.” Martha says, “Burnout is a state of emotional exhaustion. A mom feels burnout when she has been out of balance for too long. With so much energy draining out of her, she reaches a point where she feels she has nothing left to give, yet her baby still needs her, and she must go on…. A number of factors can tip the balance toward burnout, such as having a high-needs baby, being in an unsupportive environment, navigating challenges within the marriage, having a sensitive soul, dealing with outside pressures, and fostering unrealistic expectations for parenting. Thinking you must “do it all” and not prioritizing your own well-being is a sure road to burnout.”
Read on to see the tips Martha offers for parents struggling with perfectionism and burnout.
In gratitude, we remember Martha’s legacy and her significant impact on thousands of families as a nurse, childbirth educator, lactation consultant and co-author of 40 books for parents and families.
TRUNK OR TREATS!
Looking for some trunk-or-treat fun for the family? Here’s our mega list of trunk or treats throughout the region! Click the event photo to visit the website or social media page for each event.
Balance Is an Attachment Parenting Principle
“Striving for Balance in Your Personal and Family Life” is one of Attachment Parenting International’s Eight Principles of Parenting. Many attachment parents say this principle is the cornerstone of Attachment Parenting. When life is out of balance, we can struggle as parents to be as emotionally responsive to our children as we’d like to be. If one family member is out of balance, every member feels it. Read more about Family-Centered Parenting in this article by Tamara Parney.
Appalachian Highlands Healthy Babies (Ahh Babies)
Appalachian Highlands Healthy Babies, or affectionately AHH Babies, provides free breastfeeding information and encouragement.
- 1st Fridays at 10 am at the Parenting Sweet, Bristol
- 4th Tuesdays at 6:00 pm at YWCA Southwest VA/Northeast TN, Bristol TN
- And watch for our returning Washington County Virginia Public Library monthly meeting!
AHH Babies provides:
- Mother-to-Mother support
- Leaders accredited by La Leche League International
- Latest breastfeeding information
Visit AhhBabies.com/Meetings
PLAYtime in the ARTspace
PLAYtime in the ARTspace is for littles and those who love them. A just right-sized show with Ms. Camille, yummy bagels (and coffee) from Bristol Bagel and Bakery, friendships formed, and great resources from the Parenting Sweet!
Join us on the 2nd Saturday of each month at 10:00 am at the ARTspace, 506 State Street, Bristol, TN.
Learn more and reserve tickets at TheatreBristol.org/tickets.
Free admission always for Attached at the Heart attendees!
Schoolhouse Rock Live Jr!
October 25th – two showings!
11:30 am and 2:30 pm
Theatre Bristol Youth Academy presents Schoolhouse Rock LIVE! Jr. on October 25, 2025 at the Cameo Theatre. Tickets are on sale now at https://theatrebristol.org/tickets/.
Register for October Parenting Workshops!
Guiding Good Choices Parenting Workshops: For parents and caregivers of students in 4th through 9th grades. Register now for our October 2025 series! Join our Wednesday evening sessions, or contact us to request an alternate workshop time.
Attached at the Heart Parenting Program: for parents and caregivers of children prenatal through age 5. Choose from Monday evening sessions or Friday morning sessions.
Scarecrow Skedaddle & Shindig
Sunday October 26, 2025 starting at 1:45 PM
Join us for the Ballad Health Niswonger Children’s Network’s annual Scarecrow Skedaddle & Shindig—a festive fall celebration for the whole family! Lace up for the 5K, 1-Miler, or our inclusive Modified Race, all taking place outside the ETSU Mini-Dome. Then head inside for the Shindig, where you’ll find kid-friendly vendors, games, face painting, treats, photo ops, and more! Costumes are encouraged, smiles are guaranteed, and all ability levels are welcome to join in the fun!
Register today! Cost is $10.
K-5 STEM Academy at Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center
Do you have an elementary schooler who loves to explore, build, and discover?
Our K5 STEM Academy kicks off October 21 at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center! Students will enjoy hands-on activities that make science, technology, engineering, and math come alive—all for just $35 for the entire program.
Dates: Tuesdays, October 21 – November 18
Time: 6:00–7:30 p.m. (Kindergarten dismisses at 7:15) Location: SWVA Higher Education Center
Spots are limited—register today at swcenter.edu/k5stemacademy!
New! CCDP Dad Support Group at the Parenting Sweet
Dustin Leilich of Carter County Drug Prevention is hosting a monthly Dad Support Group at the Parenting Sweet! The group meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6pm. Drop in or call 423-297-1335 for more information.
The Parenting Sweet can be found at 100 Ash St, Bristol, TN. Look for our door with the bright yellow Parenting Sweet sign!
Free Parent Coaching Sessions
Receive local parenting support on your schedule! Reserve a time to chat with a parenting educator, get support or resources.
Our Parent Coaching is available through the Parenting Sweet free of charge with support from generous donors.
The Parenting Sweet’s Babywearing Library and Coaching
The Parenting Sweet has a variety of wraps, slings, buckle carriers, and more. Mei Tais, Woven Wraps, Buckle Carriers, Ring Slings – we have such a variety of baby carriers to choose from! View details about each carrier in our online database. Come in to try out different styles and learn the best fit for you and your baby. We’d love to invite you to the Parenting Sweet in Bristol, TN, to try out different styles and learn the best fit for you and your baby (by appointment only).
If you’re interested in trying our baby carriers or want to learn about babywearing, you can fill out our Babywearing Interest Form. Or, contact us at ParentingSweet@AppalachianPromise.org to learn more!
Wildlife Weekend at Steele Creek Park: The World of Bees
Friday & Saturday October 10 & 11
Steele Creek Park, Bristol, TN
The World of Bees is the theme for the 2025 Wildlife Weekend at Steele Creek Park! Saturday, October 11th will be a family-fun day featuring educational kiosks, crafts, hikes, mini-sessions, scavenger hunt, and more throughout the day.
All Wildlife Weekend activities will be at the Lodge at Steele Creek Park and Nature Center.
Unicoi County Apple Festival – October 3 & 4
The 48th Annual Unicoi County Apple Festival will be October 3 and 4th in downtown Erwin! Find everything apples, a huge kids zone, and much more. Festival information can be found at https://unicoicountyapplefestival.com/.
Grand Connections: Grandparenting Workshops
Appalachian Promise is offering a special workshop for grandparents of children ages birth to five! Whether you’re sharing care or raising your grandchildren, we recognize your vital role. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about this program, please submit your information here. Questions? Email Samantha at ParentingSweet@AppalachianPromise.org.
Use our form to learn more or to be added to our interest list!
MOMS-R-US: Teen Pregnancy and Family Support
PREPARED CHILDBIRTH CLASSES
Find free support, classes, and community for teens 19 and younger who are pregnant for the first time.
Fridays in Bristol, TN
Wednesdays in Glade Spring, VA
For details and meeting times, please contact Caitlin Talley or Mandy Boy at teenpregnancysupport@ywcatnva.org or call the 423-968-9444.
Learn more at https://www.ywcatnva.org/moms/
We Rock the Spectrum: Daniel Tiger’s Sunday FUN-Day
Sunday October 5 from 3 to 5 PM
We Rock the Spectrum in Bristol, TN
Join us on Sunday, October 5th from 3:00pm to 5:00pm for an afternoon FULL of FUN with Daniel Tiger and Friends! Enjoy a FUN-filled Character Meet & Greet with tons of photo ops, 2 hours of play, an awesome Balloon Drop, Fall Themed Crafts & Sensory Bins… PLUS a SURPRISE GIVEAWAY!!
$25 per child [accompanying adults are FREE]
JC Otters Swim Clinics – Memorial Park Community Center
Ages 6 to 18, $5/child
These clinics are a continuation of the Otters Swim Team and are perfect for young swimmers looking to build or improve their skills.
For more info, contact: Katelyn Williams 303-210-8390 or Hannah Smith 423-434-5754
Two groups: Group I (6:00 to 6:45): For swimmers new to swim team – focusing on fundamentals and stroke development. Group II (6:45 – 7:30 pm): For swimmers with some experience – focusing on building technique and refining skills.
Register online at rec desk or in-person at MPCC.
StrongHER Physio: Postpartum Recovery Fitness Classes
Mary Hobbs, PT, DPT of StrongHER Physio is offering another Fall Postpartum Fitness Recovery Series! This series is designed for new moms in the early postpartum stage all the way through one year postpartum. Fall session dates are now open:
- Wednesday’s at 1 PM at Gold Star Fitness at Colonial Hts – Six week series beginning October 15th!
To register: strongherphysio.janeapp.com or contact Mary at (423) 840-0611 or strongherphysio@gmail.com.
Main Street Days Festival – Johnson City
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18 from11 A.M. – 7 P.M.
Main Street Days is BACK with a full Kids Zone with fun for the little ones. Learn more at https://www.downtownjctn.com/mainstdays.
Deery Days in Historic Blountville
Saturday October 18 from 10 AM to 2 PM in downtown Historic Blountville
Enjoy a festive day filled with delicious eats, pumpkin painting fun for all ages, crafts, music and Guided tours of the Old Deery Inn (for a $5 donation).
Project Dads
Project Dads is a comprehensive and innovative parenting class for fathers that utilizes the 24/7 Dad curriculum. Topics covered include discipline, working with mom and co-parenting, showing and handling feelings, masculinity, dealing with anger, improving communication skills, stress, substance use, work and more.
Sign up today! Contact David Ledgerwood at at Highland Community Services: dledgerwood@highlandscsb.org or 276-525-2233
Strengthening Families
The Strengthening Families Program is a free family-focused parenting class that covers managing stress, improving communication skills, goal setting, solving problems as a family and discipline.
Sign up today! Contact Kelly Thomas (kthomas@highlandscsb.org) or Kelly Walker (kwalker@highlandscsb.org) at Highlands Community Services.
Bristol TN Fire Department Open House – October 18
Join the Bristol Tennessee Fire Department on Saturday, Oct. 18, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for an Open House & Fire Prevention event at our newest station, Fire Station No. 2, at 1848 King College Road in front of Holston View Elementary School.
- Participate in our Firefighter Rookie School designed specifically for kids
- Meet real-life firefighters
- Explore the trucks & sit in the driver’s seat
- Receive important fire safety literature
- Enjoy a FREE lunch (hot dogs, chips & all the fixin’s)
This event is FREE for everyone and fun for the whole family. Please help us spread the word so our entire community can celebrate Fire Prevention Week 2025 in a fun, educational way.
Outdoor Mini-Golf at Steele Creek Golf Course –
Saturday October 4 at 9 AM
$5/person
Swing by Steele Creek Park on Saturday, October 4, for some mini-golf fun! The BPL Foundation Golf Tournament and Community Event will be filled with fun activities for the whole family.
Participants will be entered to win some fantastic prizes!
Parenting Sweet Meetups: Parenting Prime Time!
Connect, share, and grow with other parents!
Free Drop-In Social Time (online and in-person)
Your Parenting Questions, Answers, and Referrals
Open to all Parents and Caregivers
Thursdays at 8pm (online only), or the 2nd Sunday of every month at 6pm (online or in-person at the Parenting Sweet)
Register through our Parenting Portal, or contact us at ParentingSweet@appalachianpromise.org to join!
Attached at the Heart Conversations
If you are a parent or caregiver, join our Attached at the Heart Conversations! These meet-ups are held on Mondays and Tuesdays, right after story-time at the Bristol Public Library. Our supportive Parenting Sweet staff will be there to share the latest in parenting, chat about child development, and make book or resource recommendations.
This is a judgment-free zone where you can share your parenting stories, ask questions, and gain confidence on your parenting journey. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with like-minded parents, learn from each other, and grow together!
ETSU Fall Enrichment Camp: Renaissance Theme
Dates: October 6-10, 2025
Meets: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
This fall, kids will step into a world of wonder at the Fall Enrichment Camp: STREAM Spectacular! Designed for grades 1–6, this weeklong adventure combines hands-on projects with exciting carnival fun. Campers will engineer and build their very own carnival booths, explore the science and surprise behind magic tricks and optical illusions, and practice real-world skills by budgeting and “buying” with tickets. Blending creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork, the STREAM Spectacular makes learning unforgettable—bringing together Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, and Math in a playful and imaginative way!
Registration is limited to 30 campers, so don’t wait to join us for Fall Festivities!
Free Prenatal Classes & Support Groups
Strong Starts is designed to support you and your growing family every step of the way. If you’re expecting a new arrival and want to learn more about childbirth education tools and breastfeeding basics before the due date, you’re in the right place.
Register for prenatal classes, breastfeeding basics, and support groups.
Locations for classes and/or support groups:
- BHMA Kingsport OBGYN Clinic
- ETSU OBGYN Clinic
- BHMA Abingdon OBGYN Clinic
- BHMA Norwise OBGYN Clinic in Norton, VA
- Johnson City Medical Center
- Niswonger Children’s Hospital
- Greeneville Community Hospital
- Franklin Woods Community Hospital
- Bristol Regional Medical Center
Family Playtime
This program is focused on providing developmentally appropriate activities for families to do with their child(ren). It is a space where parents can gain support from the Strong Starts team or peers while children explore and play.
Visit the Optional Registration page to learn about the various dates and locations around the region.
Free book provided to each family (while supplies last).
TN Voices – Free Therapy for Pregnant Moms in TN
TN Voices offers free therapy services for pregnant moms across Tennessee, with virtual options available. Their team provides a safe, confidential space for you to talk and receive support.
Plus, find effective advocacy training, help for behavioral needs or special education needs in school settings, parent advocacy, family support, and more. Visit https://tnvoices.org/ or call 615-269-7751, extension 0.
Spanish-speaking resources and support persons are available.
Free Family Dinner Night – Registration Required
October 22, 2025 from 6:30 to 8 PM
Elizabethton / Carter County Public Library
Join us for dinner, followed by a rotation through stations with storytime, craft time, family table talk and DIY desserts!
Must register at www.cartercountydrugprevention.org.
Bundles of Joy Diaper Ministry (Bristol, TN)
Held the second Saturday of the month from 10 am to 12 pm.
Addilynn Church, 3225 Avoca Rd, Bristol, TN, United States, Tennessee 37620
Have an emergency diaper need? Come by and let us help!
Growing Stronger Together Podcast
Growing Stronger Together is a weekly podcast for people who care about children and families developed by faculty at East Tennessee State University, including members of the ETSU Health Department of Pediatrics, the ETSU Center for Early Childhood Learning and Development, and the ETSU Child and Family Health Institute.
Prenatal Classes
High Country Doulas offers classes on Infant Feeding, Early Postpartum and Newborn Care, and Childbirth preparation classes in Kingsport and Johnson City.
Classes begin at $55 per couple, and can be offered privately for an additional fee.
Email info@HighCountryDoulas.com for more information.
Infertility & Miscarriage Support Group
Cameron Rasnake, LPC-MHSP of Safe Haven Counseling leads a new support group at Empassion Pelvic Health, created just for women navigating or healing from infertility and/or loss. Cameron brings not only her professional expertise, but also her personal experience to hold space for the hard, the tender, and the healing. This group is here to offer comfort, connection, and community, because every story matters, and yours is welcome here.
They gather the last Saturday of each month from 9:30–11:00 AM at Empassion Health in Johnson City.
To join them, visit www.empassionpelvichealth.com/workshops to sign up, and Cameron will contact you with details.
YWCA Family Network
On-site Family Navigators work closely with family members to ensure families are receiving the care, training, education, services, and financial assistance they need. As part of the program, you will be invited to participate in community events with your family. From family cookouts to karaoke, you’re sure to find something entire family will enjoy!
For more information or to join YWCA Family Network, please visit the website, email FamilyNetwork@YWCATNVA.org, or call (423) 968-9444.
Be a Parenting Volunteer
The Appalachian Promise Alliance’s Parenting Network meets the third Thursday of each month at noon and works to support parenting education in our community by sharing efforts, communicating the value and importance of parenting education, and learning more about how we can better serve families. If you are interested in helping teach classes, mentor parents, or have parenting educator updates to share, please contact us at ParentingSweet@AppalachianPromise.org!
Learn more about the Parenting Educator Network on Appalachian Promise Alliance’s website.
Upcoming Parenting Opportunities
Meet other parents and caregivers, gain and give support and knowledge!
- Moms R Us support group & Friday sessions- FREE, IN PERSON
- Attached at the Heart Parenting Program – FREE, ONLINE, IN PERSON
- Strengthening Families open enrollment every Tuesday and Wednesday – FREE, IN PERSON
- Family Playtime being held in local libraries – FREE, IN PERSON
- Attached at the Heart Conversations after Storytime in the Bristol Public Library – FREE, IN PERSON
- Prenatal Support Groups at Ballad Health OB/GYN offices – FREE, IN PERSON
- AHH Babies breastfeeding support – FREE, IN PERSON, ONLINE
- Parenting Cafe – FREE, IN PERSON
Visit the Parenting Sweet Program Notion Catalog for Details and Registration or email Samantha@AppalachianPromise.org! Don’t see a class you need? Let us know!
Parenting Sweet is here to help make parenting sweet!
Parents get connected to support and information because learning about parenting and getting support does make a difference. If you would you like to continue receiving Parenting Sweet, you’ll need to be sure to sign up on the website. If you know a parent, caregiver, grandparent, or anyone who cares about children, share the sign-up link with them and help them find all that’s great for children and families in our community. Past issues and all the events are available anytime on the AppalachianPromise.org Blog.
Support for this program is provided by Ballad Population Health Community Health Initiative and Bristol Public Housing. Parenting Sweet Team: Samantha Gray, Becky Evenden, Samuel Jones, Emily Macbeth, Shandee Childress, Audrey Arndt, Katherine Wilson-Thompson, Kaye Sapikas, and Margaret Feierabend. Have information to share? Submit it to ParentingSweet@AppalachianPromise.org.
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