by Dawn Star Sarahs-Borchelt, Director of Learning & Family Ministries
I hear people say frequently these days that it feels like the world is falling apart. In some ways the world is always falling apart, of course, but I understand why many of us feel this acutely right now. Even worse than the actual things that keep coming and coming in the news cycle, perhaps, is feeling helpless to do anything about these things.
It helps me to remember that we are doing positive things in the world. One of those things is our OWL programming: Our Whole Lives age-appropriate sexuality education based in our UU values. We are providing this programming to about 25 children and youth from over 20 families this year. Several of those kids and families came to us specifically for OWL and are getting to know us and our community for the first time. Topics covered include bodies, gender, boundaries, families, how babies begin, pregnancy and birth and taking care of babies (these are in the kindergarten and first-grade curriculum); values, body image, puberty, attraction, reproductive health, decision making, consent, peer pressure, and relationships (these are in the fourth- and fifth-grade curriculum); language, anatomy and physiology, sexual orientation, disability, sexuality on social media and the internet, bullying and bystander responsibilities, abstinence, lovemaking, STIs, pregnancy and teen parenting, unintended pregnancy options, contraception and safer sex, and self-care (these are in the eighth- and ninth-grade curriculum). Each level builds on what kids already know; all levels recognize parents as the primary sexuality educators of their children we support.
This is a solid, real good that we are doing in the world. If you are supporting our church with your dollars, your presence, or your energy, you are supporting this good and making it happen.