Kristi Mickelson of Mullin received a surprise on Tuesday, February 14, that made her Valentine’s Day extra special. Mickelson won the Smoochie Valentine Give Away at Family Services Center in Brownwood.  The Give Away basket contained chocolates, suckers, a heart picture frame, pencils, decorations, and a gift card for Wal-Mart. Mickelson has been taking parenting classes at the school in Mullin for a few weeks now.  About the classes, Mickelson said, “From ‘I’ Statements to Point Systems parenting class has been a wonderful learning experience. I will take this knowledge with me in hopes of being a better parent.”

The next special give away from Family Services will be awarded on March 27th. Parents who sign up for and attend at least one parenting class by March 26th will be eligible to win. Each class attendance results in an entry for the next give away.

“Since Being a Better Parent is Egg-citing,” said FSC officials, “the Egg-citing Give Away will include Easter decorations and eggs, candy, flowers, a bright yellow tote, a Lenox Peeps Salt and Pepper set with tray, two bunny surprise packets and much more.”

Parenting classes meet weekly and are available at many convenient times to accommodate parents’ schedules. The best part is that classes are free to qualifying attendees. Parents of children up to 17 years of age can learn skills that include active listening, assertive discipline, and setting consequences. For parents of young children, Family Services Center serves the following counties:  Mills, Comanche, San Saba, Coleman, Eastland, McCulloch, and Brown. For more information, call FSC at 325-646-5939, 1-866-211-2255 or stop by 901 Avenue B, Brownwood.

In addition to parenting classes, counseling, anger management, battery intervention and prevention, safe exchange, children and divorce or adult literacy are also available at Family Services Center. These services are funded in part by TDFPS-Texas Families: Together & Safe, United Way and private donations.