Golden nugget of parenting and caregiver advice

Michael Pritchard, Humanist & Child Advocate, shares is Golden Nugget of parenting advice on the power that heartfelt compassion can have on children
Golden Nugget of Parenting Advice from Michael Pritchard
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Golden nugget of parenting and caregiver advice

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I think the thing I would want for parents and teachers and community to understand that we're all interconnected, that when you don't address a bully, when you don't stand up to a bully, here's what happens. There's an autobiography of Benito Mussolini, who at 12 stabbed another person in school. And everybody became so afraid they ignored him after that. The teachers ignored him. The parents ignored him. Everybody ignored him. And he became more consumed with power. He became a Communist who then went to becoming a Fascist because it was where the more power was. And by the time it was over, millions of people, because he was admired by another sick psychopath, another bully, so much that they killed millions of people for no reason at all, other than that they were different and xenophobic and sick and sad in their sociopathic ways. Unaddressed bullies can teach a consequence beyond human comprehension. And it's really important that, you know if you go to scripture, there's a line in the 46th Psalm, and I'm not trying to sound religious, just think of it like a poem, because King David was pretty smart. He said, nations and kingdoms will totter; despots and tyrants will fall. What's important for us to get is we as a community have a responsibility to each other's heart and character and spirit to stand up against ignorance, to stand up against violence to stand up against anti-Semitism, to stand up against being anti-gay, anti-human in any way. To stand up and say no. I will not be part of this. I will stand against you. I will defend you. I will defend any person who's vulnerable to the sickness that you're trying to spread, this toxicity, this rage. In the book, there's this great moment in To Kill a Mockingbird when Scout says, Daddy, why is it our job to stand up against this hate and violence and prejudice in a small town? Why is it just our job? And Atticus says, well Scout, you come to find out that it's not just how you come to live with other people that is important, but how you come to live with yourself that is important. If you do not defend or protect, secure and rescue people from aggression, hostility, violence, and hate, you will not like yourself either. Words count. Words are powerful. But the words behind the heartfelt compassion lift the spirit, inspire a universe, and teach us connection to love, and unconditional love and acceptance to everybody regardless of the difference. Don't judge. Find a way to love them.

Michael Pritchard, Humanist & Child Advocate, shares is Golden Nugget of parenting advice on the power that heartfelt compassion can have on children

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Michael Pritchard

Humanist & Child Advocate

Michael Pritchard is a nationally acclaimed keynote speaker praised by the Wall Street Journal, CNN and Time for his ability to use humor to inspire and educate his audiences on communication skills. Michael Pritchard is a big guy with a warm heart who as one student described him, “truly walks as he talks.”

He began his career on both the comedy stage and as a juvenile counselor in San Francisco’s Youth Guidance Center. In 1980, Michael Pritchard won first place in the San Francisco International Stand Up Comedy Competition as well as winning the prestigious California Probation Officer of the Year.

Michael’s offers from Hollywood rolled in including a guest appearance on an Emmy Award winning episode of “Taxi”. His sensational standup comedy billed him with Robin Williams, Jerry Seinfeld, Dana Carvey and Whoopi Goldberg playing venues as Caesar’s, the Comedy Store, Universal Ampitheater and opening for such names as Diana Ross, the Grateful Dead, Kenny Rogers, Mike Mc Donald and Boz Scaggs. But Michael rejected offers from Hollywood to focus on using his comic talents for inspiring youth and adults.

Drawing from his counseling background, Michael Pritchard began using humor to inspire, teach communication skills, anger management, diversity, conflict resolution and overcoming burnout and stress.

His broad base of audience from corporate employees, healthcare workers, government and state officials have honored him with countless standing ovations and numerous awards including: President’s Volunteer Action Award, Commendation - Office of the Attorney General , Paul Harris Fellowship - Rotary International, Toastmaster’s International Speaker, Outstanding Performance - Federal Executive Board , Josephine Duveneck Humanitarian Award and the Key to the City of San Francisco.As a result of his work, Michael Pritchard has been featured on CNN, NBC’s “The Today Show”, “The Tonight Show”, CBS “Sunday Morning” with Charles Kuralt, “Time” magazine and “People” magazine.

His seven educational series for PBS and distribution has been seen by millions and focuses on youth guidance in the areas of violence prevention. “The Power of Choice” “You can Choose”, “Big Changes, Big Choices”.

Forming Heartland Media, he continued with “Red Ribbon Week” and “PeaceTalks” teaching students to make positive choices.“SOS: Saving Our Schools from Hate and Violence”, featured in both Time magazine and on CNN, filmed after the tragic Columbine disaster. His new series: “Lifesteps” builds the social and emotional intelligence in youth and has already received the Parents Choice Award

For his work in promoting nonviolence with youth, Dr. Michael Pritchard was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Hartwick University and winning, 2001 Lewis Hine’s Award for Service to Children & Youth Certificate of Appreciation and the 2002 Marin Community Foundations Beryl Buck Fund Award for achievement in Promoting Nonviolence.

As an extension of Heartland Media, he established Heartland Media Foundation building character and emotional intelligence, violence prevention, inciting motivation and leadership in both youth and adults to improve schools and communities. The foundation provides youth guidance programs, including video, print curriculum, and live presentations by Michael Pritchard to aid in schools and communities where the funding is limited.

In the fund raising capacity, Michael Pritchard has help raise millions of dollars by donating his time and talent to events and various charitable organizations including: Boys and Girls Club – Ronald McDonald House –Salvation Army - Jewish Family Services – SF Giants Community Fund – American Heart Association –Women’s Wellness Forum – Special Olympics - CASA Court Appointed Special Advocates - Bread & Roses – Recreation Center for the Handicapped –– DARE –– Texan’s War on Drugs –– Vietnam Vets of America - Guide Dogs for the Blind

More Parenting Videos from Michael Pritchard >
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Transcription: 
I think the thing I would want for parents and teachers and community to understand that we're all interconnected, that when you don't address a bully, when you don't stand up to a bully, here's what happens. There's an autobiography of Benito Mussolini, who at 12 stabbed another person in school. And everybody became so afraid they ignored him after that. The teachers ignored him. The parents ignored him. Everybody ignored him. And he became more consumed with power. He became a Communist who then went to becoming a Fascist because it was where the more power was. And by the time it was over, millions of people, because he was admired by another sick psychopath, another bully, so much that they killed millions of people for no reason at all, other than that they were different and xenophobic and sick and sad in their sociopathic ways. Unaddressed bullies can teach a consequence beyond human comprehension. And it's really important that, you know if you go to scripture, there's a line in the 46th Psalm, and I'm not trying to sound religious, just think of it like a poem, because King David was pretty smart. He said, nations and kingdoms will totter; despots and tyrants will fall. What's important for us to get is we as a community have a responsibility to each other's heart and character and spirit to stand up against ignorance, to stand up against violence to stand up against anti-Semitism, to stand up against being anti-gay, anti-human in any way. To stand up and say no. I will not be part of this. I will stand against you. I will defend you. I will defend any person who's vulnerable to the sickness that you're trying to spread, this toxicity, this rage. In the book, there's this great moment in To Kill a Mockingbird when Scout says, Daddy, why is it our job to stand up against this hate and violence and prejudice in a small town? Why is it just our job? And Atticus says, well Scout, you come to find out that it's not just how you come to live with other people that is important, but how you come to live with yourself that is important. If you do not defend or protect, secure and rescue people from aggression, hostility, violence, and hate, you will not like yourself either. Words count. Words are powerful. But the words behind the heartfelt compassion lift the spirit, inspire a universe, and teach us connection to love, and unconditional love and acceptance to everybody regardless of the difference. Don't judge. Find a way to love them.