Mama Renew

This month’s Mama Renewed is Charmaine, mother of Franny (4 1/2), cancer survivor, and adoptive parent in waiting.  We supported her through birth with our sister practice, Dancing Star Birth, new motherhood in our very first Mothers Unfolding group, and now as a seasoned mother with Mama Renew.

About Charmaine

I’m the oldest of 2 daughters, born and raised in the Okanagan to immigrant parents. I’m an interior designer by training but I have recently decided to let go of this practice to find another creative outlet and focus on raising my daughter.  Three words to describe me?  Thoughtful, creative thinking, and able to tell the truth and go deep (ok, more than 3 words!).

I’ve recently been through some momentous life changes (miscarriages, cervical cancer, family deaths, and infertility) and have managed to find a positive outlook and honour the gifts within all that has happened.

Why Mama Renew?

When I heard about Mama Renew I was hooked by the words “a group for mothers to find balance and renew themselves.”  I was, and am always seeking to go deeper, to know truth and explore myself more. I love being connected to other like minded women, inspiring and feeling inspired.

New Insights

I didn’t know how important self-care was. Mama Renew got me to break away from self pity and resentment. Taking time out to have adult thoughts and activities was a revelation. It seemed both foreign and strangely indulgent to take time for myself. How far from the old me had I strayed…

Our Mama Renew group has continued meeting beyond our official session, and after 2 years of meeting we know each other so well we are able to settle in right away to what’s most important to us.  A core part of self-care for me is connecting and sharing with my women friends.

The listening and support I received in Mama Renew helped me focus on healing, acceptance and ultimately to happiness. I am so lucky to be alive and living this beautiful life.

Challenges

My biggest self-care challenge is that I get overwhelmed if I have too many things going on. This is easy to do since I love being involved and getting out there. Life balance for me means going slow, being with my friends and family and being creative.

Moving Forward

I recently participated in the first annual Mama Renew retreat, a powerful weekend and another step in my transformation.  Just after the retreat, I was feeling very full of life and planned a naked photo shoot with a friend. I pranced around our property with an orange silk scarf, running down trails, nestling in the grasses of the meadow and perching under a pine tree in a peaceful Siddhartha pose.

While the photo shoot was outside my normal comfort zone, it was a wonderful experience. I thought it was a good idea to celebrate myself for where I am now, celebrating my 40th year. Thank you Mama Renew for sparking me to take risks and get outside my comfort zone!

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You know the feeling.  You’re thirsty. But you’ve pushed the sensation aside in favour of making school lunches or just one more chapter of a good book.  By the time you get around to having a drink you are parched, and find yourself guzzling rather than sipping.

We’ve been working with mothers long enough to know that moms are really, really good at delaying that metaphorical sip of water. We’re good at talking about our desire for self-care, our longing for balance, and the challenges we’re facing, and not always so good at taking steps towards change. The busy nature of family life too often takes precedence, and our needs are set aside.

We got a registration the other day from a mother wanting to join one of our Mama Renew groups.  She described her eager anticipation of the group, “My spirit feels like its about to drink a big, needed glass of water.”  She captured the essence of Mama Renew perfectly.

Many mothers are doing great things with their free time – yoga classes, book clubs, choirs and more.  Each of these has the potential to nurture and inspire, and build a community of support.  There’s something different, however, about the Mama Renew journey.  When we go beyond sips and take the time to enjoy a long cool class of water, we experience a deeper level of nourishing and growth.

Whether you’re enjoying our blog, or taking a Mama Renew group, we hope you’re taking some great big gulps along the way.

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Gracias a La Vida….Que me ha dado tanto

Mercedes Sosa, legendary folk singer from Argentina (and mother of one), died this week at age 74.  Her voice was one of immense power and conviction, and she used her gift of song through a lifetime of working towards social justice.  Her most famous song, perhaps, is Gracias a La Vida, and when you hear her voice carry these words, you cannot helpful but feel gratitude.

Gracias a La Vida – Thank You to Life.  Ok, it doesn’t sound nearly as good in english, and a translation here simply will not do justice to the beauty of this song.  Even if you don’t speak Spanish, the power of her voice will carry you.  At the core is a deep thankfulness for the beauty of our being in the world.

In honour of Mercedes, and in honour of the beauty of your own life, we encourage you to live this day (and this lifetime!)  in gratitude.

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What are you thankful for today?

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