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!