"What you believe and where you aim your heart determines the direction and outcome of your entire life."

- Michelle Anthony, ​Spiritual Parenting

THE WELLBEING & PARENTING COURSE

A 6 week course providing parents with space to reflect, practice, share and develop spiritual resources that help promote well-being, and to encourage a healthier and richer experience of parenting.
During this course parents are invited to reflect on how spiritual practices, such as meditation, prayer, and mindfulness, can help to improve their experience of parenting, and their own wellness. Each session lasts for 1hr 30mins and will begin and end in meditation, and will include time for discussion and refreshments. The course is best suited for parents of children aged 0-18 years of age. No prior knowledge of spirituality and well-being is necessary. If needed a creche will be provided for children, including a small buffet style meal.

SPIRITUALITY & PARENTING

The course focusses on developing a greater awareness of sacred moments in our lives and how they can shape who we are. Spirituality is not something that is separate from the world but very much part of our everyday lives. Learning to attend to these things can help us make the very best of parenthood and deepen our relationship with our children.

A

ABIDE

LEARN TO DWELL AND ABIDE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD.

B

BEING

BEING IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS DOING IN PARENTING, IF NOT MORE SO. LEARN TO BE FULLY PRESENT FOR YOUR CHILD.

C

COMPASSION

LEARNING TO BE MORE COMPASSIONATE TOWARD YOURSELF, AS WELL AS OTHERS.

WELLBEING AND PARENTING: COURSE OUTLINE

OUR NEXT COURSE WILL BE STARTING FEBRUARY 2018

​each session will have a creche facility with food and drinks available for the children

SESSION 1: SPIRITUAL IDENTITY        6PM - 7.30PM

Introduction to Meditation         
Spiritual Identity                            
Holism                                               
Two Worlds                                       
Looking for the 'Other'                 

a gentle introduction to meditative practice ​
​a discussion about who are we, and what makes up our lives
​an activity to help us understand the different spheres of our lives
​spirituality in the everyday
becoming more aware of 'God' ​
​

SESSION 2: COMPASSION                    6PM - 7.30PM

Expectations of Parenting
Criticism
Timelines
A Compassionate Response
​

a discussion about the expectations of others
'I am my worst critic' - reflections about internal criticism
an activity to help us plot our lives based on compassion
​discovering the impact compassion has on our bodies

SESSION 3: SACRED SPACES               6PM - 7.30PM

Material Relationships
​Spiritual Relationships
Sacred Moments
​Sacred Places
Mindfulness Exercise

a discussion about transactional/worldy relationships
​seeing relationships differently
what are our sacred moments and why they are sacred
where do you go with those we love and care for?
discovering how 'being' is far better than 'doing'

SESSION 4: UNCERTAINTY                    6PM - 7.30PM

Ignatian Spirituality
Having Faith
Trust
Hope
Embracing Uncertainty

​an introduction to Ignatian Spirituality
small group work discussing what we mean by faith
trust and hope
discovering how we can relate faith to our relationships
with our child/children, but also with others whom we love
​

SESSION 5: SUFFERING                          6PM - 7.30PM

Challenges in Parenting
When Something Goes Wrong
Searching For Meaning
Parenting in a Chaotic World
​A Compassionate Response

a discussion about emotional responses to the challenges we face
how we react when things go wrong
​looking for meaning in suffering
when we feel like we're just learning to juggle
Compassion versus shame or regret
​

SESSION 6: RESOURCES                        6PM - 7.30PM

This last session will summarise all five sessions and look at ways that we can resource our future parenting. Our conclusions will be focussed on an understanding of compassionate parenting, and how we can better develop our own spirituality so that it better equips us for the challenges of parenting.

Book a place on the course

The next course begins on Tuesday 21st February and will continue for 6 weeks. For the benefit of the whole group it is expected that you will attend all six sessions. Attendance is free of charge.

THE COURSE TEAM

GEMMA FARNDON

Gemma is in her final year of a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Her research has focussed on spirituality and faith, and their contribution to well-being. Gemma is married and has a daughter aged 4.​

 REVD JEREMY PUTNAM

Jeremy is Priest in Charge of All Saints Truro, is married to Ruth,  and  together have two teenage daughters