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Ready or Not - Children, spirituality & journeying together

Reviewed by Jayne Calkin.

Ruth Harvey, a Quaker, Presbyterian minister and member of the Iona Community, asked friends and family the following question: “In what ways has being around children as their parent or godparent, their auntie or uncle, grandparent or adoptive parent, foster sibling or companion, deepened and broadened your own spiritual path?”

Their answers resulted in a compilation of autobiographical stories, reflections, meditations, poems, letters and dialogues. The book has been divided into four sections titled Arriving and Departing, Words of Wisdom, Made in God’s Image, and Wide Compassion.

Within these categories are very real, raw, vulnerable and thought provoking offerings covering a wide spectrum of parenting scenarios including adoption, fostering, grand-parenting, parenting a Downs’ Syndrome child, and all lay bare the gamut of emotions involved.

As a mother of two sons in their thirties, I see this book, divided as it is into brief contributions, as a lovely gift for a busy young mum to enjoy over a quick “cuppa” as she pauses for refreshment on her own parenting journey.