Parenting Groups; Form One in Your Community

Forming a SPIRITUAL PARENTING Group

Many parents are gathering in groups around the US and abroad to focus on the 10 Principles outlined in "10 Principles for Spiritual Parenting." If you would like to form your own group, we have created information and collected what has worked well for other groups to help you get started.

Spiritual Parenting Group Basics

Begin a group that supports and sustains all members as they lovingly nurture the minds, bodies, and spirits of their children. There is great positive energy in gathering as a group—the power of the group squared!

Invite like-minded parents to join you as you gather in each other’s homes or a community space.

Keep the number of members around 12-15.

Meet once a month for 10 months and focus on one Principle, from "10 Principles for Spiritual Parenting," per month. For instance, if you are meeting to talk about the power of trusting and teaching that all life is connected and has a purpose, you will discuss how your kids might link more deeply with nature as well as how you might help them ask “What is it I might give,” rather than, “What is it I might get?” You will compare notes, share local nature resources, go over suggested action ideas in the Chapter, use the Parent Insight Questions as conversation starters, and leave with action ideas to try out in the coming month.

Most parents skip August and open their December meeting to include families for a potluck festive celebration.

Many groups reserve one month for a guest speaker.

Some groups pool resources and hire a childcare provider for their gatherings.

Mimi has spoken via telephone speakerphone to many groups as they begin. To schedule, contact: Editor.

Ideas for Finding Members

List your group’s location and your contact information in Mimi Doe’s biweekly newsletter: Spiritual Parenting Thought for the Month by sending it to: Editor.

Gather parents you already know from (your neighborhood, Lamaze class, baby group, children’s school, playgroups, religious organization, etc.).

Create an invitation to your first Spiritual Parenting gathering.

Open your Spiritual Parenting circle to interested parents from your community.

Make up a flyer announcing the formation of a Spiritual Parenting Group based on "10 Principles for Spiritual Parenting" to distribute in your community. List your name, e-mail address, and telephone number requesting that any interested parents contact you. Post the flyer anywhere parents frequent and stress that it is non-denominational.

You can also place an announcement in the local newspapers, school newsletters, parent organization’s newsletters, pediatrician’s offices, or on busy bulletin boards around town.

Meeting Venue Options

Meet in member’s homes, rotating each month.

Ask your local bookseller if you can gather people at their store (they may even announce it in their newsletter or events calendar).

Find a community, civic, religious space—many parents find a space in their local library.

Creating Structure

Most groups find meeting once a month is optimal.

Decide the length of each meeting (usually 2 hours).

Discuss ground rules for attendance, confidentiality, sharing options, and opening and closing rituals. Having a commitment from people to be present is important to the success of the group as well as creating a safe environment for everyone to express themselves freely with no worry about personal information leaving the group.

Creating an opening Ritual. This can be as simple as:

Lighting a candle

Offering words of thanks for the opportunity to gather together

Reading a quote from the corresponding chapter/Principle from 10 Principles for Spiritual Parenting

Pausing in silence to let go of the day and bring ourselves fully to the present moment

Divide your meeting into two parts

Part I: is for discussion of the month’s Principle (follow the Principles in order) and use the Parents’ Check-In Questions as conversation starters. Take time to go around your circle of parents to discuss these questions. Often our greatest “Ah ha” moments come from the wisdom of other Moms and Dads.

Part II: can focus on each individual’s parenting goals, growth, and changes as they relate to the Principle. Make sure everyone has equal time and attention. Some groups pass around a “talking stick or rock” to signify that the person holding the object has the floor. Encourage quiet participants by asking them what they think and help the more enthusiastic members focus their energy on others as well as themselves. Read the Parents Insight-Building Exercise for each Principle. You can take turns reading aloud or tape record them in advance. Make sure to announce the Principle for each meeting at the meeting prior.

Have a ritual at the end of the meeting. Some suggestions:

	Quickly go around the room and share a one-sentence nugget of what each member is taking away from the evening’s discussion.
	Take turns declaring what each parent will do by the next time you meet or ask people to acknowledge each other for something that as done or said or discovered during the meeting.
	Blow out the candle.
	Join hands and offer affirmative words and light for all children everywhere.

Facilitating the Meetings

Organizing a Spiritual Parenting Group doesn’t imply that you must lead each gathering, but rather you are taking the initiative to launch this group. In doing so, you can articulate the general design of each meeting and offer options so the group might self-facilitate. Some ideas include:

Let your first meeting be an introduction to each other, the books ("10 Principles for Spiritual Parenting" and "Busy but Balanced") and the overall basics of the gatherings.

Refer to the Resource suggestions from "Busy but Balanced" if parents would like additional reading in between meetings.

Have the group create a list of resources they use in their life (doctors, child care centers, health food stores, outdoor places for children to play, nature reserves, homoeopathist, etc.) and distribute it so members might use this group to create more balanced lives.

Planning a Successful Group

Please yourself and be sensitive to others:

Accommodate and respect each member’s pace.

Allow the group to evolve naturally with the most organic format, pace, flavor, and focus.

Be open to feedback.

Keep the group open to everyone’s religious beliefs.

Don’t bend to everyone’s whims, but do acknowledge and take in all opinions and suggestions.

Keep it light and fun.

Create an e-mail list or call-chain system where changes in schedule, location, or messages can be sent.

Celebrate a lot!