Your Stories- Your Children

Everyone has a story worth sharing. Your story is comprised of experiences which have shaped you into the person you are today.  Our children are created with a unique purpose and placed in our care so that we can love them, help them learn to love others and teach them how to thrive in the world.  Much to our dismay, they do not come with a guidebook.  Although there are many parenting books out there, we learn the most from the experiences of others who have gone before us that are willing to share their authentic stories of parenthood. Ultimately, your child's own life experiences will mold and shape them into who they were created to be.  Often, it is at our most difficult and painful parts of life that we discover our purpose. Teens can utilize their own community here in Convene, Uniquely U, for help in making sense of their own experiences, and to realize that they aren't alone. 

The Unique Challenge of Parenting a Teen

Our job is not to fix our child when they feel broken.  It is to love them as best we can, learn to listen, honor their feelings and to help them develop resiliency when life's challenges come their way.  We cannot expect our children to grow in areas they are struggling unless we are willing to grow ourselves.  Here at Uniquely Yours, we have created a space for you to share, learn and grow as a parent.  We are all experts of our own story and your story adds value here when it can reach someone going through a similar circumstance.  There are helpful tools that true parenting experts will provide here as well such as podcasts, webinars and training modules to help you become the best parent you can be.   

Meet the Uniquely Yours and Uniquely U Community Leaders

Kate Gallihugh spent 19 years of her life practicing pediatric medicine.  During her medical career, she realized patients would be more apt to bring their wall down during a sensitive conversation if she could connect with them through parts of her own life story.  She also discovered that some of the best parenting advice (that actually worked with her kids) came from other parents, not her textbooks! 

Kate has seen the healing power of belonging to a like-minded community and sharing our stories after she reclaimed her own mental and physical health with the OPTAVIA program in 2018.  She elected to become an Independent Certified OPTAVIA Coach to pay the gift of health forward to others.  Her passion is to empower parents and young people to create a healthier family unit by providing them with tools and support to gain control over their emotions, mindset and lifestyle. 

Kate had a vision in 2020 to create two separate communities where parents and teens/young adults could share stories and wisdom acquired through life experience for the good of others.  She knew the communities needed to be safe, moderated and allow for anonymity.  A pivotal conversation on the beach with Jeff Bateson led Kate to Convene Communities, "a platform with a purpose," and these two virtual communities became a reality.  Within Convene, Kate and Jeff co-lead Uniquely U (for teens/young adults) and Uniquely Yours (for parents).  Kate is also wife and mother of two adolescent boys and loves to remain open and curious to learning new things.  She is excited to learn from you in this space as well!

Jeff Bateson is a life-long educator, working as a head collegiate soccer coach for 20 years, close to two decades as a youth soccer coach and director of coaching, and most recently entering the classroom for his fourth year as a middle and high school teacher. His wife, Kristy, is a pediatric physical therapist and he is the proud father of two young ladies entering the 8th and 9th grades this year. He holds a degree in Elementary Education from Alma College as well as a Master's degree in Athletic Administration from Central Michigan University. Jeff has also been helping grow Convene Communities since 2015. He is a part of Convene's Core team as the Chief Operating Officer, as well as a Community Leader for the Soccer, Coaching, Teachers and Adventure communities (both Coming Soon). 

Having grown up in an extended family full of teachers and educators, Jeff has always had a desire to help others become the best versions of themselves. He used this inclination while coaching, making sure that his players not only become better players but more importantly become better people in the long run. Jeff still has those same desires for his students today while teaching and coaching his high-schoolers.

Jeff wants to use this community to continue to helps others by connecting people in need to those who can help. He also sees this community as a great way for himself to learn from others. Learning from others, especially the experts who join this awesome community, will only allow Jeff to guide his students in a more positive way through life, his ultimate goal in teaching and coaching.