The Enchanted Cottage — Orange, Texas
WHERE EVERY BIRTHDAY GIRL BECOMES A
PRINCESS AND MOM
CAN RELAX AND BE QUEEN!
It was another, shall we say, “enchanting evening” at The Enchanted Cottage in Orange, Texas this past Saturday night. Girls and boys once again gathered at the cottage as owners, Kim and Bob Forman opened the doors for the group to learn more about losses and grief. If you missed their first week, check out this post.
The night began by passing out my workbook which was donated to the children by Karen Stevens.
After the books were passed out, I began teaching the lesson on Recognizing and Expressing Feelings. I pointed out that just as God uniquely designed each of us to look different, He also designed us to express our feelings in a way that is suited best for us. Some of those ways are: (1) Talking to Someone You Trust (2) Crying (3) Writing (4) Drawing or Painting (5) Dancing.
Next, a live demonstration of another way of Expressing our Feelings was presented by Eugene Gill, Praise and Worship Youth Leader at Community Church. Eugene sang and played his guitar, followed by engaging the children in singing along with him.
Ending the night of yet another way to Express our Feelings was showcased as Kim and Bob, our host for the workshop, turned into puppeteers with a puppet show.
This was a special night for me because I struggled for many years with a desire for my feelings to be validated by those close to me. So, I strongly want to convey to children that their feelings are important.
A reminder to adults: “Don’t ever be shocked by what children might say as an expression of their feelings, especially during a time of grief. Refrain from saying, “You shouldn’t feel that way,” but, instead allow him a safe environment in which to express all of his feelings without fear of being put down. It would be safe to say, “You must stay ‘shock-proof’ at anything the child might say.”
While validating his emotions is a must, correcting wrong behavior is also a must. There is a big difference between “Okay Feelings” and validating those feelings verses allowing “Wrong Behavior” that could be harmful to him as well as others to continue.
More on that in future posts, but for now, let’s go back to The Enchanted Cottage. Once again, a celebration of food for the children was a part of the evening’s festivities as Miss Stephanie served the children some of their favorite snacks.
My thanks to all who have gotten involved in helping hurting children in our community: Karen, Eugene, and of course, our regulars, Kim, Bob, Stephanie, and Glen. My thanks also to my daughter, Crystal, who tells me each week: “I am praying for you and the class.” And to my daughter, Heather, who calls and asks: “How did it go?”
My prayer is that you, too, will get involved in helping hurting children in your church, school, and community. With your help, they can learn ways of coping with losses in their lives. For more information on how you can become involved, leave a comment or send me an email, and I will be glad to help you find the way that works best for you or your organization.
Join me next week.
You don’t want to miss
“What’s going on at The Enchanted Cottage”
on Saturday nights in Orange, Texas.