The issue of inclusiveness for families as they strive to learn and grow together is one near and dear to my heart. I believe it is the hallmark of a truly successful society that they weave the needs of their vulnerable throughout daily events. While these may seem mundane to those outside the parenting paradigm, these little hurtles add up quite quickly in the life of a parent, and in turn, a child.
Our culture is very good at paying lip service to 'kid-friendly' 'family-oriented' and the like. But words and reality are very different, and as a full time parent of two, I can tell you that our neighbourhood, and city, can be an isolating place for a family.
I have noticed that even amongst the 'alternative' movements, there is a lack of attention to planning courses, events and gatherings that are safe for parents of young kids, breastfeeding parents, and families that might not fit the 'regular' mold.
That is why it needs to be said that everyone attending courses with us has a personal responsibility to support the kids, and by extension the parents taking courses with them. The time has come for us to move away from the outdated and destructive sentiment that the children around you aren't your problem because you didn't have them/don't want any/don't have a clue how to interact with them...of course there are many people in need of support. My personal interests are purely selfish, but known intimately to me and therefore the safest for me to advocate for. I want to make our city a friendlier place for people with young kids. It's lonely, it's exhausting, and it affects our whole planet in the long run. Well supported families equals well adjusted kids......you get the idea.
What does that look like at our place?
If you are a parent:
*Some days, you want to be with your kids and have a helping hand (baby holder, story teller for older ones, hand to hold to the bathroom).
*Some days, you want to attend a class by yourself.
*Some days, you want to attend a class by yourself, but your kids need to come with you, so you need on-site childcare.
Whatever your situation, we can help make it work. We only ask that you figure out your wildest dreams of how you need support, and ask.
If you are a solo class participant:
We don't expect you to be an expert, sacrifice your learning, or know what to do in all situations involving kids. We will have talked to parents attending our courses ahead of time to make sure we're helping them out in a way that supports their specific situation. Then we'll give everyone in the class the information they need ahead of time so you feel comfortable lending a hand. It might go something like this:
"Hi everybody! You're signed up for this Saturdays Backwoods Beekeeping Course. It's going to be jam-packed full of great ideas that you can take home to start your own honey supply. There will be three families attending the class.
Jamie: with his 6 year old Hailey. Hailey is very interested in learning alongside her dad, so she'll be joining us for the class. As such, we will break the class into three segments, breaking for snacks to keep up our energy and focus. Hailey is very energetic, and will probably want to play during the breaks. Anyone willing to be her 'buddy' while she plays and Jamie gets in some much needed kid-free adult conversation is most welcome. Hailey is very shy about new people, so please say hello but let her warm up at her own pace.
Claire, with her 3 month old Aidan and 2 year old Devin.
And finally Jessie and Barb with 3 year old Pearl.
Julia took care of our (at that time) three year old son, Eliot, a few
times. Eliot had a wonderful time at her place. I think the set up
and Julia's philosophy allow kids to explore, at their own
pace, different things, indoor, as well as outdoor. When we pass by, the
large yard with the chickens (and at some point, the rabbits) is still
a great hit for Eliot. Dependable and trustworthy, Julia provided a high
level of care to our son. Thank you, Julia!
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