Shirlee Smith

Background

About Shirlee Smith

Referred to as the Queen of Common Sense. Shirlee's kind of sense makes her really tired of how our American society programs parents to allow their kids to run the household when we all know that the adults should be in charge. With this philosophy, Shirlee's parenting strategy is called controversial which makes for spirited thinking and meaningful dialogue in workshops, at public speaking engagements and everywhere else once she opens her mouth."My God", I often gasp and ask myself,"What kind of egg did this current and confused generation of parents hatch from?" I'm called "Old Fashioned." I am. I'm old and grew up with discipline, boundaries, consequences, and family values that, in part, encouraged children to think but clearly made them understand who was the boss. I preach my gospel in workshops, in my blog, in my book, as a speaker, and in my stand-up comedy. I was a mother at the age of nineteen. I had six children, I fostered 12 newborns and I've raised a foster daughter since she was 2-days old who is now 30 and still lives with me. Do I know what I'm preaching about? With a baby in a stroller and the oldest of my brood in the 7th grade I was recruited by UCLA to enroll in their High Potential Program. I majored in sociology with an emphasis on the Family. I was accepted into graduate school and earned the distinction of Departmental Scholar in Sociology. Whether it's a speaking engagement, a parenting workshop, the message is the same: As parents, we have the power to create children who become responsible, caring and productive adults. But that doesn't happen with the kids running (ruining) the household. Visit Talk About Parenting.org and join the plan for CommonSense Parenting that focuses on parents being in charge.