Parenting Your Children

Summer activities

We are having two family barbecues and perhaps one outing this summer (details below, more coming later by email). PYC events are open to all families with children ranging in age from infants through elementary school, and we especially enjoy welcoming new families. Unlike our meetings during the schoolyear, there will be no babysitting or formal discussion at these events, just food, fun, and good company.

All dates depend on good weather, so please check your email and/or call the hosts or contact person on the morning of the gathering if the weather is questionable. Generally, the host family provides meat for the grill, non-alcoholic drinks, and dishes/cutlery/napkins; the guests bring salads, side dishes, other main-course meals, desserts, and alcoholic drinks like beer, wine, or mixed drinks. RSVPs are helpful (to determine the count and insure that we have all the meal basics covered) but aren’t necessary. To get email updates, sign up for our email group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FirstParishParents/

Saturday, July 17, 4:30 pm to ??
Family Barbecue at the home of Joan and David Mecsas, 1019 Webster, Needham.

Saturday, August 21, 4:30 pm to ??
Family Barbecue at the home of Erik Bailey and Liz Rover-Bailey, 64 Hillside Ave, Needham.

About PYC

Our Mission
The mission of the Parenting Your Children (PYC) group is to provide parents in our congregation with resources and community for raising children with Unitarian Universalist values.

Our Membership
We have no formal membership. We are open to First Parish families and friends with infants, preschool, and elementary age children. Whether you are new to First Parish or have been attending for a while, please do not hesitate to come!

Our Meetings
We meet the first Sunday of every month, October through June, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm in Parish Hall. For most meetings, the first hour is a potluck dinner with the kids, followed by a one-hour parents' discussion. Childcare is provided free of charge during the discussion. We also have 2-3 cookouts and an occasional group trip during the summer months.

Our Topics and Activities
We discuss a wide range of topics relevant to being Unitarian Universalist and raising children. Discussions may be facilitated by steering committee or group members, First Parish staff, or outside speakers. We often break in to smaller groups to make it easier for everyone to be heard and enable parents with similar situations to talk with their peer group. Past discussion topics have included:

Coping with stress
Positive consumerism and financial consciousness
Parenting with and teaching Unitarian Universalist principles
Extended families and differing religions
Promoting tolerance
Raising peacemakers
Helping children deal with death
Transitions large and small
What it means to be Unitarian Universalist
Encouraging nonviolence
Promoting healthy technology habits

We also seek family-appropriate social action projects that underscore Unitarian Universalist values and benefit local organizations, such as decorating and filling shoeboxes with toiletries for the homeless or collecting diapers and children’s clothing for a woman’s domestic violence shelter.

Our Group Listserv
Notices are sent out through our email group. To sign up, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/FirstParishParents/

The PYC Steering Committee
The PYC Steering Committee is responsible for programming, and we often serve as discussion facilitators. We also handle logistics, such as babysitting and communication. We value all participants and encourage everyone, whether first-time visitors or regular attendees, to share in discussions and offer feedback. For more information on PYC, please contact any one of us:

Traci Abbott (chair)
Geri Sheehan
Jen Packard
Joan Mecsas
Katie Edwards

(Contact info can be found in the Directory on the Members and Friends portion of the site [password required] or by calling the Parish Office at 781-444-0823.)