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/Group Leaders

Kate Gallihugh spent 19 years of her life practicing pediatric medicine as a physician assistant.  During her medical career, she realized patients were 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 own kids) came from other parents, not her textbooks! 

Kate has seen the healing power of belonging to a life-giving community and sharing authentic 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 and 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."  With Jeff's help, 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 fifth 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 9th and 10th grades this year. Jeff 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. Aside from Co-Leading Uniquely U and Uniquely Yours, he is also the Community Leader for the Soccer, Coaching, Teachers, Volleyball and Adventure communities (the later three Coming Soon). 

Having grown up in an extended family full of teachers and educators, Jeff has always had an innate desire to help others become the best versions of themselves. He uses 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 grow and 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. 

Amy Kraus is a national keynote empowerment speaker, author, the founder of Kindnness Starts With Me! Education Programs, veteran educator and mom of two.  Her mission of the Kindness Starts With Me! Education Program is to give children and parents tools they can use on a daily basis that bolster self esteem and remind them that they have the power within themselves to go out and attain the goals they put in place for themselves.  Amy has a passion for helping kids find love within themselves and to make sure they never feel alone again.  In addition, she speaks to students, parents, and educational staff on the focus of self love and how to deal with overwhelm.

In connection with her educational program, Amy is a mental health advocate, especially for kids giving a voice to those who struggle in silence by sharing her own mental health battles and journey.  She speaks regularly to schools, community organizations and on social media platforms that advocate for all people.  As a woman who was on the edge of ending her life, she has now transformed her life and become the stand for creating a world where everyone can be themselves unapologetically and unconditionally loved by all.  

Amy is the leader of our group, "Inspire to Thrive." Her goal is to create a safe environment for parents to connect who wish to commit to more regular engagement and learning opportunities and enhance their parenting toolbox.  Members will meet with group and community leaders on zoom in our live "thrive casts" and will have the opportunity to engage in "real talk" conversations about the most important issues parents are facing today. They will also have access to special blogs, exclusive experiences, active discussion boards, and daily affirmational messages.  

Jim Hendrix is an Amen Clinics Inc, Certified Brain Health Professional, whose current mission in life is to empower parents to give their children every chance to flourish throughout their lifetime, optimize their brain, and correct problems (some before they start).  His passion comes from a long-term battle with depression from childhood that was started in large part after two brain injuries.

Jim was a psychotherapist for 11 year in private practice, and a brain science and brain bealth geek for over 25 years.  Jim has followed the work of Dr. Daniel G. Amen for over 25 years and uses the Amen Clinics methods in his own practice.

Jim suffered from depression from the age of 7 (1968) which roughly correlates with a fall from a tree.  He never told anyone about the fall, even though he had been knocked unconscious.  His depression was untreated until the mid 90's when, in his words, he discovered that "life didn't suck."

In 2013, Jim suffered a psychotic break and went through a series of diagnoses from schizophrenia to bipolar disorder but, as you learn to read brain SPECT scans in his courses (and then see from Jim's own scans), neither of those diangoses were correct.  His brain is beat-up from blows to the head and there are definite signs of depression and anxiety, but not the other disorders that psychiatrists insisted were true.

Jim's deep compassion and vast knowledge allow him to be an engaging teacher and effective mentor.  He helps parents guide their children to a more successful, healthier, happier life from childhood to adulthood.  He can do the same for adults who are brave enough to admit that they need help or just want a better brain and all the benefits that come with it. 

Jim has also been a laser engineer, optical engineer and techical and program manager for over 35 years.