The wise women at Nummies.com asked moms if they could go back to before their first baby, what would they tell themselves. These are their answers. Everyone in the video is a mom, and I find myself wishing I had met every one of them nine years ago when I was pregnant with my first…
Enjoy!
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We thought we’d offer something special for all you wonderful women who will not be able to join us at Hollyhock this weekend for Renewal: A Retreat for Mothers. Instead you can enjoy our unique virtual retreat and have the opportunity to win one of the fabulous prizes below!
Want to enjoy our Virtual Retreat? All you need to do is be a member of our Mama Renew Facebook Page – sweet & simple.You will enjoy daily facebook posts with inspiring quotes & creative ideas to bring the Mama Renew spirit into your weekend. All those attending our virtual retreat will have the opportunity to enter one of four fabulous prize packages designed to nurture & nourish you as a woman and mother.
How to Enter?
First, join our facebook page. You receive one entry each time you leave a comment on any post on our blogorfacebook page between now and Monday, May 30th 2010 at 10 p.m. (multiple entries allowed!).
Lucky Mama Prize Package
Create your own retreatwith one complimentary night’s stay for two at Ocean Light Cottage & Spa where you will enjoy the best of Bowen Island’s beauty and abundance. Includesan organic continental breakfast and an infrared sauna session! Value $200.
Beautiful Mama Prize Package
Celebrate your beauty with a modern portrait by acclaimed photographer Kyrani Kanavaros of Klik Photographic. Kyrani’s portraits are a personal reflection of the essence of the self, captured in a moment, and treasured forever. Value $495 includes one hour photo shoot, online proofing gallery & a CD of 4×6 jpg photos.
Nourished Mama Prize Package
Nourish yourself with a personalized plan from Holistic Nutritionist Meghan Rathwell. She will help you meet your wellness goals – renewing energy and creating ease in the kitchen (It’s possible, we promise!) A 75 minute personal consultation can be done by phone or in person. Value $95.
Calm Mama Prize Package
Nurture yourself with this luscious calming package from Mama Goddess Birth Shop, your online resource & store for birthing and growing families. Submerse yourself in Mama Goddess Calming Bath Salts. Revisit your serenity anywhere & anytime with the Calming Mama Spritzer. Soothe your body and soul with a warm cup of Calming Mama Tea. Dim the lights and relax with the glow of an all natural Hummingbird Beeswax Candle & Votives. Value $75.
I got lost recently. Wandering on a university campus and trying to find my way, I asked first one, then two, then three passersby for directions. Not one of them could help. Discouraged, I gave up on asking, somehow believing that if they couldn’t help me then nobody could.
Still wandering 15 minutes later, I took a deep breath and asked again. This friendly woman shrugged as she pointed to a path and told me to “go down the path through between those 2 buildings and then ask again.”
What a gift. She helped me as much as she could and ordered me to ask for help again. In a brief, random encounter she modeled the essential life skill of asking for help, and asking again if needed.
While we grow up hearing the phrase “if at first you don’t succeed, try try again,” when it comes to asking for help sometimes even the first attempt is daunting. How often as a mother do you need help, but hesitate to ask? Or you ask once, and then give up and move forward without the help you need?
When we ask again, we are stepping more fully into the reality of our need, and believing that the support we need will be there for us.
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.
