About the "Nurturing Spirituality in Children" Series

These workshops are designed to help parents and grandparents learn how to nurture spirituality in their children / grandchildren. Whatever our spiritual orientation: Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, Indigenous, Earth-Centered, Interfaith or "In Exploration", we have valuable gifts to share with our children. We may need to clarify those aspects of our religious upbringing that have been positive forces in our lives and those that no longer seem authentic for us. These workshops will offer resources, time to discuss our concerns and ideas together and the opportunity to meet other families.

At any time that you can gather 4 people to commit to any one session, I would be happy to offer it at my home.   Let me know if you are interested, as I may know of others who can join us.  The workshops can also be offered to your group at a church, a community center or an individual's home. They can be offered individually or as a series.

The cost for each workshop is $15 per person. ($25 per family)   (These are designed for Adults only - grandparents/parents welcome. Perhaps your group can arrange child care. Nursing babies who are not yet crawling are always welcome.) 

Possible Topics 

Creating Meaningful Traditions & Rituals (This session explores how we can make our traditions and rituals more meaningful and true to our values.)

Earth-Centered Spirituality for Children

Voluntary Simplicity for Families - Helping Children to Become Ecologically Conscious.

Coming to Terms with Your Religious Past - Deciding What to Pass On to Your Children and What to Leave Behind.

WORKSHOPS THAT FOCUS MORE ON PARENTS:

Nurturing Yourselves as Parents: (Rediscover your own inner wisdom in parenting and to explore ways to spiritually nurture yourselves so that you can nurture your children.)

Re-claiming our Freedom as Parents (Often parenting can make us feel caged in and limited. Explore how to overcome these feelings, reclaim your inner freedom, set the boundaries you need for self-preservation, and rediscover your own passions.)

Embracing Our Many Selves (Staying connected to our Dreams, Gifts and Life Outside of Parenting (Yes there is such a thing!))

Honoring the Sacred Cycle of the Generations  (Intergenerational Healing, Staying Centered in the midst of family drama, The gift of difficult children, breaking family patterns, and Re-Visioning our Sacred Role in the Evolution of Humankind!)

Motherhood as a Spiritual Practice

and many more possiblities...

See also our

Mother's Centering Circle

and

Discovering Your Authentic Spiritual Path

The workshops are facilitated by Jeanne Marie Merkel, who is the mother of 3 grown daughters and a passionate grandmother of three.  Jeanne's mother founded the Pine Tree Day Nursery in Riverhead and so Jeanne has been immersed in early childhood education since the time she was 8 years old!  She majored in Developmental Psychology and did a bachelor's thesis on "Nature in the Development of Self" which looked at how a child's relationship with nature affects their sense of self and spirituality. She also studied Religious Education as part of her Master of Divinity Degree at Union Theological Seminary, and has developed religious education curriculum and taught in 2 Unitarian Universalist Congregations. Nurturing mothers and families is a passion for Jeanne and these workshops are pure pleasure.