Several years ago, we discovered the First Church and Parish in Dedham. When we first attended, we were concerned that although the people were welcoming and the community was obviously strong, we weren’t sure if there was a critical mass of young families like us. We wanted our kids to be a part of a church community with other kids. But in the course of only a few years, the church has grown dramatically in this respect. Every Sunday, I am amazed at how many kids go to the front for the “story for all ages” and then depart to their classes–leaving the church back at about the capacity it was when we first attended.
Yesterday was the annual Fall Fair. It’s still not a big fancy production but I’m happy about that. Here’s a video of my daughter decorating her caramel apple.
The video is only 30 seconds long, and I know a video like that for non-parents (and maybe anyone not me) can kind of seem like forever, but as I was standing there watching her decorate her apple, it struck me how “right-sized” this community has become. I’ve been to plenty of seasonal family events and a more typical situation is a line of kids and perhaps pushy parents trying to get their turn at whatever is up next. We don’t have that vibe here. Kids had fun in the “bouncy house” and petted the barn babies. There was face-painting and various other activities that we’ve become familiar with as parents of 6/4/2-year olds. But no rush, no line, no problem.
It’s a tough balance…of course if there is not a critical mass of people, then things can be, well, rather lame, and unviable. And then if the “hidden gem” becomes popular, you have lines of people coming to check it out and crowd out the folks who built it up. But I think this community is in a good place now and growth means more people to help and more capacity to create good experiences and connections.
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