September 09, 2010
I am a bit slower than usual in getting out my newsletter this month. My goal is to try and get in done in the first week. This month I was at the Rethinking Everything Conference for six days. The conference originated as Rethinking Education and has broadened its focus in the last few years to encompass many other aspects of life. There were reported to be around 800 people there this year and I had a chance to give a short talk (20 minutes) on “The Roots of Violence and Oppression,” as well as the opportunity to facilitate a 4-hour workshop titled “Liberation Parenting.”
The conference did have me thinking and rethinking many things. There were opportunities to reflect on my own behaviors and beliefs. I was challenged and triggered at times, sometimes by adults, sometimes by the children (Martel and Greyson) who share my life. As with most of the times in which I experience being triggered, once I move through the intensity, I have the opportunity to reflect on my growth and struggles.
Out of the conference came two articles that I have now posted on my website.
Rethinking Trust
I have been thinking and sitting with the idea of trust in the last month. On one of the lists I frequent, someone raised the issue of trust as manipulation. This idea has been moving in and out of my consciousness lately. Click here to read Rethinking TrustChildhood Disempowerment
The second issue that I have been thinking about and connecting with prior to going to the conference is our childhood experiences of disempowerment. I have been reflecting on how in our relationships with the children in our lives we may be triggered and brought back to intense feelings of disempowerment, despite our more powerful role as adult and parent. Click here to read Childhood DisempowermentBook Update
I am taking pre-publications order for my upcoming book, Parenting for Social Change. If you pre-pay before October 15, your price will be $15 with free shipping (including international shipping). I am expecting the book will be available to ship by December 15, 2010. If you would like to learn more about the book you can go to the website. Click here to go to the book order page.Thanks as always for being a part of my website and sharing my parenting process!
All the best,
Teresa Graham Brett
