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At a Series Meeting, the Applicant and the Leader observe, preferably when another Leader is responsible for the meeting.  It is probably best to take only mental notes during the meeting, then jot down your thoughts as soon after the meeting as you can.  If there is only one Leader in your Group, you may prefer to attend another Group’s meeting.  The Leader and Applicant meet the next day or soon thereafter for discussion.          
                                                                                                 
1.       Before the meeting, review Chapter Two in LEADER’S HANDBOOK on planning and leading Series Meetings.

2.       During the meeting, pick a few mothers (non-Leaders) and try to really listen to them.  Make your own contributions to this meeting as minimal as possible so that you can concentrate on listening and watching.  What are these mothers’ concerns today?  What are they saying?  What are they feeling about themselves and their babies, and about others at the meeting?  Are what they say and what they feel always the same?

3.       Notice how the Leader of the meeting responds to these mothers when they ask questions or contribute to the discussion.  Notice how other Leaders at the meeting respond, and how other mothers respond.  What are your own inner reactions to what these mothers say?  How might you have responded to them?   Why do you think the Leader reacts the way she does?  During a meeting, what are the different responsibilities of the Leader of the meeting, other Leaders, Leader Applicants, long-time Group members and relative newcomers?

4.       The Applicant and Leader meet for discussion.  Talk about what you both saw and heard during the meeting.  Discuss the questions above.  Were the responses to the mothers helpful or not, and why?  Can you think of responses that might have been more helpful?  Talk about how Leaders set the tone for others in the Group by what they say, how they say it, and by their body language.

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