21st Century parentsBy the Revd David Burgess
Penny and I reached a new stage in our parenting this summer. For the first time in nineteen years, we don’t have a child at school.
It hasn’t sunk in yet, but it hasn’t struck us as particularly strange at this stage. I guess we’ll start to feel it in a fortnight or so’s time, when Emma is in Mexico, Robert in Manchester and Charlotte embarks on a gap year with only the ‘wrinklies’ (as our three affectionately call us) for company.
As far as I’m aware, this hasn’t affected my plans for what we’re going to be doing over the autumn; but it’s an indication that, whether we’re parents ourselves or not, all of us have different experiences of parental care and each of us is at a different stage of that experience.
So this month’s article is, at its simplest, an invitation. We’re running a course across the four parishes and we’d love you to join us.
If you’ve read this far, you won’t be surprised to know that the course is called “21st Century Parents”. It takes place at 8:00 pm on the Wednesday evenings of 7th and 21st October and 4th and 18th November; the venue is the St Leonards Church Room.
What we’re planning isn’t formal – it’s not a parenting course as such, nor is it a Bible study. We see it simply as a chance to share experiences and opinions on parenthood and family life. We’ll be looking at things from a Christian perspective, but it’s not going to dominate what we discuss.
This means that it’s open to all: church members, non-members, prospective parents, parents, grandparents, non-parents (have I missed anyone out?) are all welcome. We’d value anyone’s opinion on this very important issue.
If parenting duties need to come first and you can’t make all the sessions, or need to take turns because of babysitting, etc. that’s fine – the sessions are meant to stand alone as well as forming part of the overall course.
If you could let me know if you’re planning to come, it would be a great help. And whether you attend or not, I’d be interested in your response to the following question: “What should the church be doing to help parents and families in our society?”
I look forward to hearing your answers and to welcoming as many as possible to the four sessions in October and November.