Quakers to Hold Discussion on "Adventures in Parenting: What Does Success Look Like?" at Newtown Quaker Meetinghouse

Quakers to Hold Discussion on Adventures in Parenting: What Does Success Look Like?

at Newtown Quaker Meetinghouse

Martha K. Holland, Newtown Friends Meeting member and educator will lead a discussion on Adventures in Parenting: What Does Success Look Like? for the Adult class of Newtown Friends Meeting, 219 court Street, on Sunday, September 25, at9:45 a.m. (www.newtownfriendsmeeting.org). Traditional Quaker worship based on silence and shared ministry will follow at 11 a.m. The public is invited to attend all events.

The program will be Part 1 in a series of three on Education at the historic Quaker Meetinghouse.

Martha Holland has had a rich and varied 24 year career in education as an English teacher, coach of soccer, tennis, baseball, cross-country, softball and basketball, literary magazine advisor and director of plays. She has also had leadership roles in program development, student support and diversity work as well as faculty development and evaluation. Most recently, Martha was Assistant Head of School and Director of Upper School atAbington Friends School in Abington, PA.

A resident of Newtown, Martha Holland is also an avid musician, reader, gardener and a half-marathoner.

Holland says: "The ability to raise resilient, empathetic and confident children in a world that places outsized emphasis on hyper-achievement and material success can seem like an insurmountable challenge. How do we learn to prioritize the joys and challenges of life in the over anxious present visions of an uncertain future? The answer, according to author Madeline Levine, is disarmingly simple: love the child in front of you.”

She goes on to say, “This discussion will invite parents to redefine ‘success.’ We’ll examine the key factors of developing resilience, empathy and grit; learn how to navigate and overcome the relentless pressures of academic achievement and competition; and, discuss how to let go of our fears of failure in exchange for faith in our children’s innate strengths.”

Children attending the Quaker Sunday School at the same time (9:45 a.m.) that day will have a program led by artist, and Newtown Meeting member, Tim Mammel, about the PeaceableKingdom paintings of well-known Quaker artist Edward Hicks. Childcare for younger children will be available.

Newtown Friends Meeting, co-founded by "Peaceable Kingdom" painter and Quaker minister, Edward Hicks, in 1815, holds regular First Day Education classes (Sunday School) the first three Sundays of each month for both adults and children at 9:45 a.m. Meeting for Worship begins at 11 a.m. The doors are open for all to attend and childcare is provided.