Sex Ed?

I work with the middle schoolers at my meeting, and I brought up to the other teachers that I'd like us to do a few discussions with the kids on sex and sexuality. Not really the basics at all (I think they all learn at school about where babies come from and the effectiveness of various sorts of birth control)

I'm hoping more to lay some groundwork for developing about sexual ethics. The kids in my meeting know lots of same sex couples, and some trans people (though I don't know how well they understand that) and some know something about polyamory.

So, I'm not talking about a set of "rules" that I think of as common to religious education. I'm not interested in telling them what's "wrong" - but I feel as if there's a lack in first day school of any talking about that stuff, so kids may be a bit at a loss when confronted with ideas and practices that they're not "used to" - let alone the challenge (for some of us anyway) of figuring out one's own sexuality. I think I'm finally getting the hang of it :)

We had talked about trying to borrow from the Unitarian/UCC "Our Whole Lives" or "OWL" program, but it's much more intense than we expected, and they dont' even sell the curriculum to people who haven't been trained.

We've been working a little in class with question cards - a deck of cards with queries (pretty much) written on them to inspire conversation about spiritual or emotional issues. Last week the teachers decided that maybe we can come up with some similar questions around sexuality, but we haven't set a time to meet and do that yet.

I'm not sure why I'm blogging about this, I guess just for input. I'm wondering if quaker parents have things they'd like their kids to discuss (or really don't want them to discuss!), things people wish they'd gotten to talk or learn about as 12-13 year olds, etc.

Or if anyone has suggestions for questions, or other ways of approaching the topic (whcih is a little awkward and giggly, I must say!)

peace
Pam

She's here!

This is my latest addition, who flew up from Georgia yesterday. She didn't at first look anything like the photo I'd seen (well, I mean, the photo wasn't of a white poodle or anything) but I think it's really her. In any case, I saved one.

She's great, and only a little bigger than Maddy (but MUCH less barky) - they're adorable together.

I still don't have a name, though I've started calling her "Georgia" (origingal) rather than "new puppy" :)

Update:Georgia has moved on, to live with f/Friends of mine. She's an only dog now (with kitty friends) which means more attention, but less playtime. so many tradeoffs in life. And we miss her much at my house, but are enjoying (at least me and the cats are!) the return to a lower level of chaos.

Dog craziness

hey

well, this isn't all spiritual and introspective, but I guess I just need to blab.

So, I adopted this dog, and she's ready to travel now. I'm trying to figure out how to get her from Atlanta to Minneapolis sometime this week. I have someone who can get her to the airport on Saturday, but between her not being able to get there until afternoon, and the cargo divisions that handle shipping animals and not being able to prepay (so this woman who's already doing me a favor has to pay, and I have to reimburse her, which is a lot to ask!) and the crate she needs and the certificates (the airline that is best on many things - like having crates you can buy at the airport, also is the only one that requires an additional certificate for dogs flying when it's cold out - which I don't know if I can get)

And it's lots of money, and I'm feeling sort of stupid. I'm sort of figuring I'm spending (a little more, but basically) the money I would have donated to a rescue organization at the end of the year anyway. But I dont' get the tax deduction, and they probably could have saved more dogs with the same money.

And dealing with my mom's money is a similar sort of crazy. she's actually running out, and not all her bills are paid, and some are in my name, which is scary (I'm not sure how that happened!) and applying for assistance is the typical bureaucratic nightmare!

and I'm focusing less energy on that than the dog right now, which probably isn't the smartest.

And once she gets here she needs to be checked out by a vet, and I'm worried about what that will turn up. (she hasn't been tested for heartworm, or given distemper vaccines) and if my dogs will be exposed to anything.

And then, I'm hoping to find her a home, but who knows if I'll be able to? and can I give her up? I havne't even met her, but she's been my dog for a while now. Which brings up a whole nother thing. Am I "in love with the idea of her"? I think I can tend to do that.


Just a friendly update :)

peace!

Pam