I have designed a workshop format which can be used by anyone to facilitate their own growth, and provide an opportunity for others in a group situation.

I have organized it as a four week on-going workshop. Each evening would be two hours long. I think, however, that with creative thought, it could be reorganized to fewer or more weeks, depending on your needs.

I suggest the workshop consist of ten to sixteen people, depending on the comfort level of the facilitator and the needs of those organizing it. I think it could be beneficial with as few as six people, but no more than sixteen.

The workshop follows the chapters in the guidebook. Hopefully, your group will be able to provide or find donation of a copier, so that each week, the participants will have available the next section of the guidebook for a basis of discussion.

In the appendix can be found two samples of flyers used to publicize the workshop. Use your imagination and creativity to adjust the contents and information to meet the needs and interests of your community. Make sure to have a phone number and person available to take reservations.

It is important to find a place conducive to trust and sharing, such as a quiet room in a school, someone's living room, a small space in a church building. Consider the time of year and whether the space can be accommodated to that weather, so participants are comfortable. Decide on chairs, floor sitting, etc., and ensure enough seating is available. Don't forget to consider access and parking.

If at all possible, consider an arrangement to include a daycare service during the workshop. Depending on the weather and your resources, provide tea, or cold water, and small cookies, etc. Food can often provide security and a sense of feeling at home and relaxation to many people.

A goal is what we want to achieve as a result of one or more activities. An activity is what we do to accomplish a goal. This workshop provides four weeks of carrying out activities to help us reach our overall goal of becoming tuned into our inner child, and it's effects on our parenting. Each week's activities will take us on a small step toward that goal.

WEEK 1   Preparation: Becoming a Parent
Objective:
     To learn one another's names/identities and discover enough about one another to establish a basis of trust within the group.
     To discover the many individualized ways of defining parenting and its' goals, yet to be aware of its' sameness.

A. Activity:

• Participants need to divide themselves into pairs, choosing a partner they do not know, or know the least.
• Discuss the following together;
  1. their name and the age & sex of their child(ren)
  2. what they like most and least about being a parent
  3. what they liked most and least about being parented
• Regroup
  1. have each person introduce their partner: name and info on child(ren) and share one of their partner's comments or their own feeling about something their partner shared concerning one of the discussion points
  2. open floor for a few moments to anyone who particularly needs to express a reaction/feeling from this activity

• Divide into small groups (3 - 5, depending on the total number of participants)
  1. brainstorm definitions of what a parent is
  2. brainstorm "goal" of parenting
• Regroup, have each group share, and discuss similarities and/or differences of findings

At Home:
     For the week, until next meeting, note using pen and paper two things: the times you noticed you did something with your child which was an activity you feel is helping to accomplish your goal, the times you noticed you did something with your child which you feel was not helping to accomplish your goal.

Hand out copies of Chapter I for reading

WEEK 2  The Journey: Childcaring: The three spheres of parenting
Objective:
     To get in touch with our relationship/feelings between an episode with our own child and an episode from our own childhood

A. Activity:

• Divide into pairs, different from last week, and discuss the following questions:
  1. Any episode that you remember from your childhood when you made a decision to do or not to do with your own child what your parent(s) was doing to you at that moment.
  2. Have you followed through on that decision? Why or why not?

• Have participants sit in a comfortable position for a moment, close their eyes, and remember a powerful moment as a child when they were interacting with a parent. Suggest they might use the episode they had talked about in the previous activity, or a new one would be appropriate as well. (Do not define powerful, however.) Give a moment or two for people to think this over. Ask them to open their eyes and write a letter to that parent, beginning with Dear...........
• Open floor for any who wish to share their letter, or a feeling about the evening's activities.

Ask participants to read or reread Chapter II.

WEEK 3   The Journey, Continued
Objective:
     To discuss and explore ways to reach, and nourish our "inner" child.

A. Activity: Inner Child - Guided Imagery

• While playing soft music (Try such musicians such as George Winston, Anne Locke, Vivaldi.) in the background, ask people to assume a position they will be comfortable in for at least five minutes. Read the following in a calm, but hearable, almost monotone voice.
• Close your eyes and begin to focus your attention on your breath, watching the air move in and out of your nostrils. Give yourself the suggestion that with each exhalation your body becomes more and more relaxed (pause)
• Good. Now imagine that you are moving through time and space to a place that is a sanctuary for you. The sanctuary is safe, simple, and beautiful. It may be located in nature, in the hills or near the sea, it may be in a room at your home, or any place of your own choosing where you feel safe and secure. Go there now and experience the colors, textures, smells, sounds, tastes, and how your body feels in this place. You'll have several minutes of clock time equal to all the time you need to relax in this sanctuary (pause for two minutes)
• Now prepare to greet your inner child when he or she appears. He or she may be five, eight, or ten or whatever age is appropriate at this time. He or she may also change from age to age during this visit.
• Open your dominant hand (the hand that you write with) to hold the hand of your little girl or boy as they arrive and feel the texture of his or her hand in yours.
• Begin to interact with him or her, letting them take the lead. She or he may wish to talk or walk with you, or may ask you to hold them on your lap. Be attentive to his or her needs and wants, and learn what she or he has to teach you. You'll have three minutes of clock time equal to all the time that you need to spend with your child. (pause for three minutes)
• It is now time to say goodbye for the present. Thank your child for the time you have spent together, and tell her or him that you will call upon them to return again soon. (pause)
• Hear your child say goodbye, and receive from him or her a letter (or gift) which you accept in your dominant hand. (pause)
• In a moment, I will count to ten. Join us back in this room at the count of six, opening your eyes at ten, feeling relaxed and alert and ready to record your letter (or gift).
• One, two, etc.
• Ask if anyone would like to share their gift and/or their feeling about the guided imagery. Ask if anyone can find a relationship between their gift and feelings about their gift with their parenting or being parents. This is often very powerful for people. Give people the time they need to talk and process this activity.

• If there is time, suggest you all do something playful now. Ask participants to get paper and writing instrument ready. Slowly describe the lines below. Wait until after the activity, to explain to people it is a form of poetry writing.
  • line 1: one word to give the title (you can suggest they use the word parent, if there seems any confusion, or reluctance)
  • line 2: two words to describe the title
  • line 3: three words to express action concerning the title
  • line 4: four words to express feelings about the title
  • line 5: one word which is another word for the title
• Listen to any that people would like to share.

Handout Chapter III.

WEEK 4   Guidebooks
Objective:
     To share information and resources for parenting and self-growth skills & tools which relate to parenting      To give time for reflection of workshop experiences in a positive way

Activity:
     Using soft music in background, and having crayons/markers, paper, available, etc., make representation of a gift you would give to your child when they become a parent and that you wish someone had given to you. Ask participants, those who wish to, to share their gift and their feelings or the importance of that gift. Suggest they stow it away for the day one of the children does become a parent!

Activity:
     Share annotated bibliography
     Open floor for ideas/suggestions of participants to share important resources for themselves.

Before breaking up, be sure to acknowledge and thank the participants for coming and sharing of themselves.