“I Had to Unlearn Some Things”: Neicee’s Journey to More Intentional Parenting

When Jeneice “Neicee” Sweet left Las Vegas for Georgia in January 2023, she was looking for a new beginning.

Neicee had spent years thinking about moving to Georgia, where much of her biological family lived. But the decision became more urgent as she struggled to find stability in Las Vegas and watched her daughter, Kendall (15), struggle at school. Kendall had been bullied for being smart and articulate, and Neicee wanted to give her daughter an environment where she could thrive.

So Neicee took a leap of faith. She moved to Atlanta with Kendall, leaving most of her belongings behind and bringing only what she could take with her.

Georgia gave them a fresh start. Kendall found a school where she could flourish, and Neicee found work. But as she started rebuilding her life, Neicee realized she also needed a community.

Making Connections with Other Parents

Kendall soon began attending Lawrenceville First United Methodist Church with friends who lived in their apartment complex. Neicee had been away from church for years, but her daughter’s connection eventually helped open the door to a new spiritual community.

Then, while Kendall was attending Moore Middle School, Neicee learned about Raising Highly Capable Kids (RHCK) through the school’s parenting app. RHCK is a 10-session program the Georgia Center for Opportunity (GCO) provides through local community partnerships. It gives parents practical tools to strengthen family communication, connection, and routines, as well as children’s confidence. GCO was offering this particular workshop in collaboration with Lawrenceville First, Neicee’s own church.

The opportunity caught Neicee’s attention, but she immediately began thinking of reasons she couldn’t participate: transportation, child care, dinner, and the time commitment.

Katelyn Stewart, the RHCK Program Manager, reassured her that those needs would be taken care of.

So Neicee decided to give it a chance.

What she found went beyond a typical parenting workshop. Through RHCK, she found a community where parents could learn, share honestly, and support one another.

Learning to Listen Differently

One of the aspects Neicee appreciated most about RHCK was its transparency. Parents weren’t simply being told how to parent. They were given space to talk about their own experiences and learn from one another.

Discussions about the 40 Developmental Assets, which form the foundation of RHCK, helped Neicee see parenting differently. 

“The Asset steps were so helpful,” Neicee said. “That is when I realized that I had to unlearn some things.”

One asset that stood out and had a large impact on her was Positive Family Communication.

For Neicee, that meant recognizing that communication wasn’t simply about making sure her children heard her.

“I used to always tell [Kendall] to be quiet. I learned to listen to my daughter,” Neicee explained.

That lesson began changing the way she approached everyday moments with Kendall.

When they disagree about chores, for example, Neicee now tries not to assume she knows why Kendall hasn’t followed through. Instead, she asks what would help.

“As a result of what I learned in the workshop, I ask my daughter how I can support her and what type of resources and tools she needs to remember the things she forgets to do when it’s time to do her chores,” Neicee said. “RHCK has taught me to not make assumptions and allow her to speak instead of jumping to conclusions.”

Kendall quickly noticed the difference.

“My mom is a lot nicer and a lot more patient,” she said.

Giving Her Children a Voice, Finding Encouragement for Herself

For Neicee, listening has become one way of helping her children develop a sense of purpose.

She allowed Kendall to help decide where their family would live this year as they navigated the search for a new home. Today, Kendall makes age-appropriate choices about family activities, decorating, cooking, and even which electives she wants to pursue in high school.

With her son Kadence (3), Neicee is learning the same lesson in a different way. As a young child with a speech delay, he has given her even more opportunities to slow down, listen, and let him communicate in his own way.

Neicee believes those small choices matter because children need opportunities to develop confidence and learn that their voices have value.

“Sometimes we need to stop talking at our kids, and give them room by listening to them,” she said. “They can’t learn to be confident if you don’t let them have a voice.”

For Neicee, the new beginning she found in Georgia became something more than a new home or a new job. It became an opportunity to build a different kind of family life—one grounded in patience, communication, faith, and community.

“[RHCK] gave me community,” Neicee said. “I did not realize that I was lacking it until I realized what it was to have community.”

She remains connected with parents she met through the program, while Kendall has built friendships of her own through that same community.

And Neicee continues to practice what she learned.

“No matter how good of a parent you are, you can always be better,” she said.

Bring the Transformation of RHCK to Your Family

If you’re interested in getting the tools and support to bring more strength and stability to your family, please visit our RHCK webpage.

Images courtesy of Neicee Sweet and Caleb Clark.