October Unitarian Universalist Thread - All Welcome - Page 2

[Callimom]

Ack - I need help

I've just been asked to lead this week's RE program for our 9 - 12 year olds. It's an easy topic: Death and Dying

Nothing has been prepared. I'm out all day tomorrow.

Carp - why do I let myself get talked into these things.

Anyway.... the class is quite small - usually just a few kids, mostly boys, some exceedingly rambunctious, some quiet and very philosophical.

I have access to a nearby trail with a river and the weather is supposed to be clear. I could do something about the cycles of nature and take them for a walk which could be good or could spell disaster.

Ug - help?

Karen

[Adele_Mommy]

How did your RE program go? I'm sorry I wasn't able to give any help. If someone asked me to teach an RE class, especially one on death and dying, without giving me a curriculum, I would have been

[leila1213]

Subbing! I work in the nursery at a UU church and have been meaning to learn more...

[Adele_Mommy]

leila!

Let us know if you have any particular questions. We love to talk about UU!

[leila1213]

Originally Posted by Adele_Mommy

leila!

Let us know if you have any particular questions. We love to talk about UU!

I am simultaneously becoming interested and learning more about Wicca (I was raised Catholic). In fact, I had a CUUPS brochure in my purse I just took a look at! I also checked out a book about Dianic rituals from the church library, parts of which really spoke to me. And some friends are planning a Samhain (sp?) ritual I would love to attend, but can't decide if I will due to a scheduling conflict.

I guess my only question/hesitation at the moment is about actual services. So far, what I've heard from my basement nursery speaker , has been mainly centered around explaining...oops, gotta run!

[artgoddess]

Originally Posted by Karenwith4

I've just been asked to lead this week's RE program for our 9 - 12 year olds. It's an easy topic: Death and Dying

Nothing has been prepared. I'm out all day tomorrow.

Carp - why do I let myself get talked into these things.

Anyway.... the class is quite small - usually just a few kids, mostly boys, some exceedingly rambunctious, some quiet and very philosophical.

I have access to a nearby trail with a river and the weather is supposed to be clear. I could do something about the cycles of nature and take them for a walk which could be good or could spell disaster.

Ug - help?

Karen

: How did it go? Our former RE director used to do stuff like that to people. No wonder we had such trouble getting people to volunteer.

[Callimom]

Originally Posted by artgoddess

: How did it go? Our former RE director used to do stuff like that to people. No wonder we had such trouble getting people to volunteer.

Well.....

I had 3 kids - my 11 year old, a friend's 10 y/o and my 8 y/o who wouldn't go to her own program.
I told them the story of freddie the leaf, gave them all a leaf and asked them to think about their life from a different perspective. I was hoping to guide the conversation to the idea that death is part of life, is what gives us perspective and encourages us to use our time well etc etc etc. I had a book about an 11 y/o boy who has lukemia and writes lists of things he wants to do with his life.

So we get to the point of the discussion where we are sharing and this little friend tells us that she has a friend in the hospital with lukemia. You could feel the air get sucked out of the room.

We talked about that for a while and then moved on to what various religions/belief systems believe and how those ideas give us comfort and help us create meaning in our lives. I was totally filling time....

At this point my husband came in to pick up my oldest for hockey and drop off my other 8 y/o who promptly burst into tears at the idea of death and dying and would neither be comforted nor leave.


Sigh...we called it done at that point and went upstairs for the last song.

I checked in with my friend about her daughter and her daughters friend with lukemia...only to find out it was pneumonia rather than lukemia.

I think it might be a while before I attempt another class.

[artgoddess]

Oh Karen, I'm so sorry. What a rough subject. I think you did do very well. It's such a tough tough thing to talk with kids about. if I think of anything you can use as follow up with your daughter I'll let you know.

[Adele_Mommy]

I hope everyone had a happy Halloween, Beggars' Night, Day of the Dead, and/or Samhain!

Please come join us on the new November UU thread!