Power of Mom's Retreat

"All that I am, I owe to my mother."

Abraham Lincoln

Last weekend I had the opportunity to go to Park City for a

Power of Mom's Retreat.

The retreat was held at the lovely home of New York Times Best Selling Authors

 Linda and Richard Eyre.

They were incredibly gracious hosts to the nearly 100 women

that overtook their kitchen, family room and bathrooms for 2 days.

As I pulled into the parking lot the first day,

a tall man in a little red car pulled up next to me.

I regocnized him immediately as Richard Eyre, and was surprised when he rolled down

his window and said, "Hi, I'm the shuttle.  Hop in!"

The Power of Moms is an organization that was started by April Perry and Saren Eyre Loosli.  They are dedicated to helping mothers become inspired and empowered as they strive to become the best mothers they can be. 

They see 'The Power of Moms as the “professional organization” for mothers everywhere who take their “job” as a mother very seriously and desire a network of other mothers that can provide ideas, inspiration and empowerment.

The Power of Moms is the gathering place for deliberate mothers interested in growing through motherhood – not just going through motherhood.' (quoted from their website)

How great is that?!

April taught a class on Friday called 'Mind Organization for Moms'.  It was amazing.

Seriously, she is the most organized person I think I've ever met.

Her practical idea's for tidying up the organizational details in your life are brilliant.

I'm afraid I can only hope to become half as organized as she is,

but I have all the tools she uses, and I'm working on it!

We got to hear from Richard and Linda as well

(who undoubtedly deserve the title of 'Parenting Experts').

They are so fun to listen to! 

I loved hearing the stories of when they were raising their children,

and being told the numer one rule they had while we were in their home

was that we were not allowed to feel any GUILT!

We are not to compare ourselves to other mothers,

and to rest reassured that eventually the kids will forget most of our mistakes anyway!

(I can only hope!)

At one point Richard surprised his family, and the rest of us,

by riding up the hill to the house on a horse.  He was there as a rancher named 'Tex'. 

His lesson on finding the 'Seredipity' in our lives was so good!

Later when we were discussing family economy, he was talking about

thier family treasure box, and said "It's all about the presentation".

I believe he has mastered the art of presentation!

 

Linda reminded us to be deliberate in our mothering.  We may have other careers,

but being a mother is the most important job we'll ever have.

She also taught to start with the end in mind.  We discussed what we want our children to remember when they grow up, what we want them to know, to cherish, and to be grateful for.  She admonished us to look for the little moments of joy each day, because motherhood is a rollercoaster with highs and lows.  The joy isn't always constant,

but rather comes in moments that we need to strive to recognize daily. 

Emi Edgley taught us about 'Accepting the Life We've Been Given'.

She encouraged us not to miss the lesson in the trials or setbacks we may encounter,

and suggested that we may not always get to experience our plan A, but sometimes plan B is really better than our idea of plan A, maybe it's actually plan A+.

DeAnne Flynn (author of 'The Time Starved Family' and 'The Mother's Mite')

talked to us about giving ourselves enough credit. 

She encouraged us to make a list of the daily offerings we give our family.

She said, "We are enough, our best is enough!"

If our offering for that day was frozen pizza for dinner with Oreo's for dessert,

it's really okay!

She also showed us a necklace, with a small 'Mother's Mite' pendant on it.

She donates all the proceeds from the necklace sales to a local women's shelter.

I am so buying one!

We also heard from Allyson Reynolds about setting margins in our lives. 

 As mothers we can't live in perpetual overload!  Let's be honest, it's hard not to!

  If we simplify our lives and give up the need for perfection, we can find balance that will make us happier, more productive women.

She shared a quote, and I wish I had the name of who said it because it's great.

"Balance comes from neglecting everything a little."

Perfect, right?  Who doesn't need to work on finding more balance?

One segment Saren taught was about 'Thought Replacement', and how we have to replace our negative thoughts with positive ones. Since thinking negative thoughts about ourselves seems to be something we as women are pros at, it was a great opportunity to work on ways to build ourselves up rather than tearing ourselves down.

  She also led discussions on Family Systems that Work. 

We talked about Rules, Family Laws and Discipline, Family Economy, and Cleaning with our Kids.  I left with so many great ideas!

During lunch we met in small groups to discuss various topics inluding 

Discipline, Finding More Joy in Motherhood,

 Balancing Motherhood with Other Pursuits and Parenting Partnerships.

The small groups allowed women the chance to open up about things

 that are working well for them, as well as difficult things they are dealing with in their mothering endeavors.  The opportunity to share ideas from our own experiences, and to

recognize that others are going through the same things we are, 

was both empowering and reassuring. 

One of my favorite quotes about cleaning was from April. 

She said, "Housework is a priviledge.  Housework is meaningful, it sustains life.  Housework is about relationships and growing a family closer together. 

Housework is a way to show love."

She encouraged us to ask ourselves how performing this household task

can help bring us closer together as a family. 

I love that!

Okay, so this post is a mile long.  I could fill volumes with the great information and ideas these moms shared.  I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to meet other women who love being moms, and want to do the best job they can. 

Here's somthing that might surprise you...

 The nearly 100 women at the retreat represented 493 children.  Seriously!  There were young mothers with just one infant, to seasoned mothers with several children, including some who's children were grown. Think of the difference that can be made in this world by having those nearly 500 children (and the generations that follow them) grow up learning responsibility, feeling loved, being taught values like hard work, honesty and integrity, and principles like thrift, patience, and treating others the way you want to be treated.  Marvelous!

These mothers came from throughout the United States,

one from Canada and one from Japan. 

(I knew it would come as a surprise!)

Thank you so much to Saren and April for all the work they have put into creating the Power of Moms.  I have posted a link to their website, and suggest that anyone out there who is interested in joining an international, non denominational, inspiring circle of deliberate mothers should check it out!

Thank you also to Charity Eyre (who helped immensely in organizing this event),

 Richard and Linda Eyre, and all those who presented. 

On my sidebar you'll see I've posted a link to where

you can preorder a copy of the Eyre's new book,

"The Entitlement Trap".

If you are interested in raising responsible children in a age of

 instant gratification, you should order this book!

(Plus, it's being offered at a 33% discount right now.

$12.00 is a steal!)

I plan to continue participating in events sponsored by

The Power of Moms, and I'm even considering becoming one of their trainers.

Being a mom to my amazing children means more to me than anything,

and getting to spend time with women from all walks of life who share that passion

is a blessing.  Thanks ladies!

**I have to send a special thanks to Linda Eyre, who asked me if I write a blog.  I have considered it for a while, and had recently started one, but as you can see, this blog is in it's infancy to say the least.  Linda encouraged me to write one, saying some very complimentary things.  Her kind words and suggestion that I do so were the catalyst that got me to actually do it.  (My cute husband has been telling saying the same things to me for a while.) I realized that even if no one but me ever reads it, at least I'll have a record of the day to day events that shaped my children's lives.

That in and of itself is priceless.  Thanks Linda!