Parents of Joglo. Photo by Nanik
Joglo, Rumah Damai Pati – The Joglo Parenting bimonthly meeting was held once again in a warm atmosphere filled with deep reflection. This session invited parents to read and reflect on a true story from the “Power of Goodness” (PoG) series titled “Brick.”
The story of Brick tells of a young boy who initially felt useless. However, through positive affirmations from his teacher, he found new determination and grew into someone who inspires many people. This story serves as a mirror for all of us: it shows how a single, confident statement from an adult can change the course of a child’s life.
Group Reflection
Participants were invited to reflect on two questions:
-What motivates Brick to learn and help those around him?
-What do others do that makes you even more determined to keep learning and helping those around you?
These questions open the door to personal reflection, during which parents realize just how crucial affirmation, support, and role-modeling are in shaping their children’s spirits.
The Re-evaluation Counseling Approach
Reflection becomes even more emotional when combined with the Re-evaluation Counseling approach. In this approach, participants choose a partner with whom they feel most comfortable, and then take turns sharing stories of past pain from their childhood, emotions that still resonate today or their feelings as parents who sometimes feel they have failed in raising their children.
Through this process, parents learn to release their emotions, let them discharge, and not let them get stuck inside their bodies. The atmosphere becomes deeply moving and also feels warm, because each story is not just about pain, but also about the courage to rise up and find new strength.
Agenda
The meeting proceeded according to the following agenda:
Welcome, a moment of prayer according to each person’s faith, a brief pause to release tension, introductions, a review of the Agreements, reading the story “Brick,” group discussion, grounding, the empty chair exercise, reflection, and closing.
Collections of our reflections
This meeting made us realize that parenting isn’t just about educational strategies, but also about having the courage to face emotions and engage in self-reflection.
Brick’s story teaches us that positive affirmation can ignite a child’s spirit. Sharing and discharging helps us, as parents, rediscover the strength to guide with our hearts.
Affirming a child or anyone should be expressed in words, not just kept in the heart.
Harsh and hurtful words make our hearts ache; gentle, loving words can bring tears to our eyes. Both have power. Harsh words have the power to destroy, but gentle words have the power to revive and rebuild. Which ones will we choose to use?
The meeting concluded with a shared realization: small acts of kindness can cultivate great strength, for both children and parents.
Sharing in small group. Photo by Nanik
Reading the story of “Brick”. Photo by Nanik