This group of parents meets once a month to discuss ways to create a more healthy, balanced and spiritual family life for each other and for our children. We discuss ways to nurture our children’s souls and strengthen their relationship with God, while trying to transform our family life from frenetic and frazzled to one with meaning, balance, spiritual growth, laughter and renewal. The meetings give us a chance to exchange ideas and provide support for each other. We meet at the St. Peter’s church rectory from 9:00 to 10:30 on the second Monday of the month, and new members are always welcome. For more information, please contact Ruth Portela at 973-535-3612.

2007-2008 Year

This year we are reading “Parenting with Fire—Lighting up the Family with Passion and Inspiration” by Shmuley Boteach, host of TLC’s Shalom in the Home. The following is an excerpt from the book:

“Everywhere you go these days, you see unruly, unhappy kids—or lifeless, listless teenage zombies. Admit it: Even your own kids can be hard to reach. They prefer friends to family, video games to books, and headphones to conversations. But you’ve given them everything—what could be missing?

According to Shmuley Boteach the missing ingredient is inspiration: giving your children the example, incentive, and tools to make something of themselves, to live life at the wave’s crest.

Transmitting your passions to your children, motivating them with shared goals, and getting them excited about values are the most important things you can do as a parent. With great humor and insight, Boteach lays out his guiding principles for taking your children to the mountaintop—and creating a parent-child bond based on vitality, exuberance, and mutual respect.”

The reading schedule is as follows:

October 8th: Introduction: Fanning the Flames Within: Parenting—and Living—with Fire AND Chapter 1: CHILDHOOD REGAINED: Finding Our Way Back to the Garden of Eden

November 12th: Chapter 2: PROTECTION: Making a World That Is Safe for a Child AND Chapter 3: Honoring Our Children by Protecting them Emotionally

December 10th: Chapter 4: LOVE: The Power of Unconditional Love—and the Danger of Raising Kids Without it

January 14th: Chapter 5: Why is Our Love Getting Lost in Translation? AND Chapter 6: The Dangers of Conditional Love: How Friends Are Ruining the American Family

February 11th: Chapter 7: ACTIVITY: The Parent as Camp Counselor

March 10th: Chapter 8: Passionate Parenting

April 14th: Chapter 9: NOVELTY: Finding the Wonder in the Everyday AND Chapter 10: Making the Ordinary Extraordinary

May 12th: Chapter 11: TRADITION: Tradition: Our Connection to Something Larger Than Ourselves

June 9th: Chapter 12: Strengthen Your Family: Establish Your Own Traditions AND The Conclusion