My palms start to sweat and butterflies flutter in my tummy as I near my destination.
I'm seated driver's side in our sizable 'expedition' vehicle, hands on the steering wheel, slouched in the seat to reach the gas pedal, peering through the dirty and cracked windshield of our Alaskan bought - no inspections required - Ford F250.
Certain that I'll be meeting a group of moms with designer jeans and finely coifed hair, driving clean minivans and SUVs, I feel as though I'll stick out, wearing one of the three pairs of 'traveling' pants I own with one of my six shirts, and appearing in my particularly dirty house on wheels.
Arriving at the middle-class suburban neighborhood, I park some distance from the house where the Power of Moms Retreat is being held, hoping to be inconspicuous.
Late, I'm ushered through the stunningly decorated home to the basement where a crowd of woman are gathered, and take an empty seat.
Almost immediately I'm drawn into the conversation as women share the secrets of their hearts about topics that touch us all, yet we rarely disclose because of the walls we put up to protect ourselves from the criticism we're afraid we might receive in the never-ending competition to be 'super-mom'.
The day is divided into several group breakouts that offer topics for discussion such as Positive Thinking, Finding Joy in Mothering, Better Communication, Family Systems, The 'Me' in Mom, and much, much more.
- Nurturing the 'Me' in Mom - Cultivating Purpose Beyond Motherhood
- How to Leave 'Margin' Space for the Stuff That Matters
- How Family Systems Can Save Your Family
Despite so much diversity among us - and being strangers to one another - mothers young and old, having from 1 to 9 children, varying in ages from 0 to 25 - we connected.
Opening our hearts and bearing our souls, we share the parts that are scared, lonely, overwhelmed, ashamed, hopeful, anxious, eager or enthused.
And then we realize what we should have known all along - we're not in a competition with each other to win the award for 'most perfect mom'.
Standing arm in arm and shoulder to shoulder, our goal is not to be better than those next to us, but to be the best mom we can be.
United in a common cause, we're working together to build our best self, a better family and in cooperation a stronger community.
A strengthened individual = a strengthened family
= a strengthened community
The concluding keynote speaker is Linda Eyre, best-selling author, parenting expert and mother of nine children (and dear friend of mine).
She shares with us the wisdom of her experience:
- Maintain your humor about mothering - one day you will look back and laugh
- Risk is good - if you knew everything, you wouldn't go or grow
- Teach your family to serve others
Exhausted by the work that comes from smiling, sharing and strategizing so much, I don't feel disconnected from these women anymore.
Despite our diverse lifestyle differences, there's a common thread that knits us together.
We're deliberate mothers, determined to do the best job we can.
I'm considering starting a Virtual Learning Circle for nomadic mothers (or anyone else). It would be held via Skype or some other service, where we can discuss the topic of Deliberate Motherhood together.
Interested in a monthly virtual meetup to discuss Deliberate Motherhood?
Topics would include:
- Family Systems - legal/discipline & economy
- Strengthening Family Identity
- Finding 'Me' Time to Be a Better Mom
- Mothering on the Road
- Finding Joy in Motherhood
- Much More
Sign up below if interested.
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Rachel, it was so great to meet you at the Retreat, and I love what you’re doing with your blog. You are living such an adventurous life! I hope we get to meet again . . . somewhere exciting!
Thanks April!
It was great to meet you as well. I love what you guys are doing with Power of Moms! It’s wonderful. I think I’ll be starting a ‘nomadic’ Learning Circle, I’ve had a lot of interest in the idea. Thanks again!