What we long for, for our children's inner well being

In our UCM Parents Group which met on March 14th (after a brief RE Committee meeting and therefore had a few more members), we were a range of ages and stages of parenting, from grandmother to busy parent of a preschooler. We took time to share what we each long/longed for, for our children and their sense of self, their sense of identity, what we wanted for their spiritual nurture....

I believe we all found this a moving and powerful exercise, even though brief, and thus I wanted to open it out to all our UCM parents to consider. What would you say for the precious young people in your own lives? Without revealing personal names and details, here's a series of tastes of what we told one another we hoped for, that evening over our cups of tea:

--That an 11 year old's abundance of creativity not get quashed.

--That a young man at 18, the edge of adulthood, hold onto the deep sense of his goodness and ability to make a difference in the world; may he always keep the deep conviction that his life will make a difference.

--For an active four and a half year old: that whatever he ends up doing, the wish that when he looks back he is happy with the path he took, that he not feel locked in, that he knows he can change

--For my pre-schooler: that he mostly meets kindness in the world, because he is a quirky child, needs kind and positive and supporting people

--For all my family: that they always have faith in themselves and the integrity to be who they really are, not doing things just for other people. Yet at the same time to know the joy of putting others first, that paradox.

--For my children to keep the core spirituality they "came" with, based on a sense of wonder and connection. For them to feel at home in the world, to have that profound sense they belong in the world, see the value of others and to value the world.

--That my 11 year old be free to make choices, not have to fit into molds, can be herself. that she feel good to be who she is

--That my 8 year old have the unstructured days she needs "to do her own thing," to have more time to wander around nude and do nothing!

The Pleasures of Parenting, long term . . .

From the clippings so often left in my mailbox, I know that many Unitarian Church of Montreal attenders know my son Richard Reed is a creative musician and composer based here in Montreal. In fact when I was first hired as your Director of Religious Ed in 2008, I remember being told some of the Nursery caregivers who were moving on to other jobs almost changed their plans, they were such huge Arcade Fire fans! Of course I have appreciated your comments and congrats over the past few years, but now I want to draw your attention to my other creative adult child, Richard’s older sister Evalyn, who is also a graduate of Concordia, but based in Toronto. She holds a drama degree and performs as an actor, singer songwriter, spoken word artist, or sometimes a combination of all three.

You can learn a lot about Evalyn’s many artistic achievements at www.evalynparry.com, and this spring you can see her in person at three different venues here in Montreal, which I am very excited to tell you about!

1. Her amazing theatrical creation, “SPIN” is an “interdisciplinary performance which celebrates The Bicycle as Muse, Musical Instrument, and Agent of Social Change.” She will be presenting it as part of the Edgy Women Festival on March 22nd at the Sala Rossa. Check www.edgywomen.ca for details. It says:

Innovative Toronto artist Evalyn Parry takes her audience on a unique theatrical and musical journey in her tour-de-force performance celebrating the Bicycle. Inspired by the first woman to ride around the world on a bicycle in 1894, Parry weaves a web of stories that deftly travel from 19th century women’s emancipation to 21st century consumer culture, from the political to the personal.

March 22nd 2012 at 8 p.m. (doors at 7:30 p.m.)

Price : $15 pre-sale, students/$20 regular

Venue: Sala Rossa (4848 St-Laurent)

Duration: 1 h 30

2. Evalyn will also be performing a concert of mostly other material, on Friday March 23rd --at Shaika Cafe on Sherbrooke; please contact me for further details.

3. Then, on Saturday, May 5, Evalyn will be singing at the Petit Campus (57 Prince-Arthur East, 8 pm), along with Theresa Doyle Hannam from P.E.I., as a part of the Wintergreen Concert series promoted by Hello Darlin’ productions.

I really hope to see you at any or all of these fun events! (If you catch me, I also will be happy to tell you about either of my children’s creative childhood exploits, as proud parents are wont to do!)