Book Club
The Fishful ThinkingSM book club is a great way to learn about parenting, optimism and more while sharing stories and experiences with your closest friends. After reading the book, use the questions outlined below to further guide your discussion.
The current book club selection is:
The Secret Life of Bees
By: Sue Monk Kidd
I read The Secret Life of Bees almost two years ago and the imagery, language and poignancy have lingered. Sue Monk Kidd's book, set in South Carolina in 1964, is a story about coping with loss, finding courage and, most important, the transformational power of love. It explores how a child's resilience grows through being embraced by women who live in a very different world. The Secret Life of Bees reminds us that loving relationships are a basic human need that sustain us through pain and give us the sustenance to thrive.
This story has inspired me to think about who I love and how I love them. It has reminded me to think about the many people, outside of my family, who have given me support throughout my life. It has also lead me to reflect on what I give, and don't give my children, and who they can turn to when I'm not able to meet their needs. As you read this book, you might consider the following questions.
- How was love expressed in your family when you were a child? What did this teach you about love? How has that influenced the way you express love in your current family?
- Who, outside of your immediate family, helped shape and support you? What did you learn from these relationships? How have they influenced the way you support and care for your own children?
- How have you dealt with a disappointment within your most important relationships? How do you respond when someone important to you isn't able to give you what you want?
- What are the ways in which you help your children learn to deal with disappointments in relationships? What kind of messages do you send to your children about how people help meet each other's needs?
- How might you express gratitude or love to someone who played an important role in your life when you were a child? What would you like that person to know?
- How can you help your children express gratitude or love to someone who is playing an important role in their lives?