First, we WILL have class next week on July 5th.
As for podcasts — if you miss a class and would like to hear a podcast of it, please email me and I will send you the audio file. My email is mrcommodore yahoo dot com. We are trying to podcast each class.
Here are some of the tips I remember from this morning — great class! In no particular order:
1) To preserve adult time, have a babysitting co-op where you and two or three other couples take turns dropping off your children with one of the couples so the others can have date nights.
2) Similarly, if your kids are old enough, send them for sleepovers. This is particularly good in that it allows for sleeping in late/recharge time.
3) To teach empathy, take moments when your child is hurt and point out that you would hope they would never inflict that on someone else.
4) Instead of just requiring one child to apologize to another, have them ask “are you OK/can I do anything” first, again as an empathy-building exercise.
5) Have the child verbalize exactly why they are sorry for their behavior, as a way of making them “own” it — even if you have to provide the words.
6) Model foregiveness and being sorry by asking for foregiveness of your spouse and of the child.
Other things people remember? Add to the comments section.
As most everyone knows, Kevin is still in the hospital from his heart “episode” (not a heart attack, but I don’t know what else to call it), and lots of people are certainly interested in sending on their support/helping out in any way possible. In order to make sure Kevin and the family are not overwhelmed, I believe all questions about visitation, etc should go through Amy Rowell as sort of a clearinghouse.
Also, I know that Cherie Wardle is coordinating meals for both those by Kevin’s side at the hospital as well as family that is in town and staying at the house. I believe the needs and numbers for these meals varies by the day, so what might be very useful would be to send Cherie an email saying that you are willing to be “on call” to bring a meal to one of those two locations, on some short notice. If you need Cherie’s email, you can look it up on www.blacknall.org/bold or you can email me. — Mark Hayes
A request has been made to tape the parenting unit over the summer so that people can listen if they miss class. I’ve heard at least one person express concern that this might cause a “cooling” effect on conversation. What does everyone think?
Sorry this took so long to nail down — the class will meet in the fellowship hall over the summer to accomodate what I’m sure will be large numbers for the parenting/child rearing class. The fellowship hall, if you don’t know, is the large room by the kitchen.
It starts June 7th. Get ready!
Let me start by saying that this parenting class will be interesting and insightful both for parents and non-parents. The first half in particular (during June, led by the Pooles) will focus on the calling and values of parenthood and how we all as a church raise the children around us. I hope that parents and non-parents alike will participate.
The second half (during July, led by the Dunderdales) will focus a little more on “nuts and bolts” parenting, but I believe will also be accessible to all.
As for format, in order to preserve some semblance of discussion given what I expect will be a large crowd, we are going to have rotating “panelists” each Sunday. That way, as they talk to one another the rest of us will have some vicarious participation in a small group like we are used to.
Samuel H. rehydrating
Matt and his travel hammock
Those who were there a month or so ago during our “Community” unit when we talked about “Unity” will appreciate the irony in this case title that I came across today at work:
United American Free-Will Baptist Church, Northeast Conference v. United American Free-Will Baptist Church, Northwest Conference
All classes and churchgoers are instead invited to a church-wide hour of fellowship in the fellowship hall during the normal Sunday School time.
Thanks to Ben for teaching Sunday, and the June and David for hosting our biweekly potluck – as more people start to invest in this class, we see it grow in meaningful ways.
