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Sarah Juliusson

Mama Renew: Exploring the Deeper Journey of Motherhood

On the road again…

May 27th, 2010

by Sarah Juliusson of www.MamaRenew.ca – Find Mama Renew on Facebook & Twitter

On the top of the How to Get to Hollyhock guide we’ll be following today it says

“Some Say It’s All About the Journey.”

In the case of Hollyhock either it’s true, or we’re a bit mad to be taking a total of 3 ferries and two taxis to get to Cortes Island.

I love road trips.  I don’t love the driving or gas station bathrooms.  I do, however, love that suspended from reality feeling I get on a road trip.  The feeling of being unknown, unneeded, inbetween worlds & responsibilities. I’m simply on the journey.

While I’ve always loved the feeling of the journey (I travelled through latin america & africa in life before children), it has become even more of a delight as a mother.  I find myself particularly struck by the simple fact that others I meet don’t even know I’m a mom.  Sometimes I find myself deliberately bringing them up in casual conversation, missing the way in which they shape who I am & how others see me.  Other times I revel in being an unknown quantity, able to define myself without my children shaping others perception of me.

We’re off this morning.  You won’t hear from us again until late afternoon when we arrive on Cortes.

Your first Virtual Retreat activity?  Road Trip!
Find some way to create a journey in your day.  Driving kids to school/lessons/sports?  Put on some favourite music & crank it up after they leave the car.

Have an hour to yourself?  Go somewhere new and give yourself a taste of discovery & anonymity.

Want to win one of our fabulous Virtual Retreat prizes?

Comment on road trips here or on our facebook page and be entered to win one of our great prizes!

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Thirsty?

October 16th, 2009

waterYou 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 your life right now is crazy full or deliciously slow, we hope you’re taking some great big gulps along the way.  Dig deeper, celebrate self-care, create balance, delight in your successes, take risks, live adventures…

Renew, Mamas, Renew!

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Photographing Mom

September 29th, 2009

Stop and reflect for a moment.

If you look through your family photos, how many images include you?

Even more telling, are there any photos just of you?

Not you breastfeeding, not you with a toddler swinging off your hip in a sling, not you on a family hike, not you pushing a swing.  Just you.  On your own.

Imagine.

If you have been wise enough to include such photos in the family collection, we applaud you.  We’re guessing, however, that you’re a lot like the rest of us and maybe only have a few, and of these maybe only one that you actually like.  Or maybe even none at all.

In a recent Mama Renew group my dear friend Nancy, photographer extraordinaire, gifted each woman participating with a photo session.  Just for us.  No kids allowed.  No partner.  Just mama.

What a beautiful gift.  And a perfect way to strike absolute terror into my heart. Just of me?  I tried to bargain, asking to include the kids.  At the root was my fear – what if I didn’t like what I saw?

Soon after my 40th birthday Nancy reintroduced me to myself through her lens. She came with not only her camera, but the desire to capture my way of being in the world.  Her images will serve as a testimony to my unique beauty, and who I am as woman today.

infield

Thank you, Nancy!

***************

Our Mama Renew challenge to all of you?  Find a Nancy.

She may be a professional photographer, or a dear friend.

Let yourself be seen through someone else’s eye –

and may you find beauty in your own reflection.

striding

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We Invite You…

September 22nd, 2009

DSB-logo-transparentWelcome to Mama Renew

Mama Renew was created to nurture you as a woman and mother, whether your children are babies or teenagers.  We now invite Mothering readers to join us in exploring the deeper journey of motherhood.

At Mama Renew we are mothers.  We know what it is give and give and give to your family & community.  We mothers tend to give a lot – our time, creativity, tender love and care, energy, skills…  We also know how hard it can be to give to ourselves.

Resources and support abound for us as mothers.  We can choose from a wide array of parenting guides and workshops, products to make our lives “easier”, and experts to support us through it all.  Many of us have found Mothering to be a trusted source of not only information but also support and affirmation in our lives as mothers.

We hope to bring to Mothering a fresh voice of compassion & encouragement

to care for yourself as care for your children

to nurture body and spirit

to play with your edges & go beyond

to honor your inner knowing

to cultivate healthy relationships – in love, friendship & family

to build a community of support around you

& to redefine what balance means in your life

Many thanks to Mothering for this beautiful opportunity to extend the message of Mama Renew. It is an honour to be able to give to the Mothering community in this way.

May you live a bit of the Mama Renew magic in each and every day.

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