My own Personal Retreat or Power break

by Mary Ann on October 7, 2011

fall colors picture

Fall is my favorite time of year

It has been a long summer for me. I don’t know why that is other than I have had a lot of new things to learn (technology) and I have done some really new things (namely presentations). Learning new things can be wearing sometimes, as well as exhilarating and in this case both.

Anyway, I have been contemplating taking a rest of sorts, actually having my own personal retreat or power break. In fact this personal retreat idea has just become more and more appealing to me as the summer has waned.

When I was a young mom I thought about having a personal retreat a lot. One might, in truth, call it thinking about running away. I loved my family and I loved being a mom but sometimes I just thought that a day or two without the usual demands sounded mighty good. You know, a time to recoup, pull myself together, and tie up the mental loose ends.

I had mentally picked a spot. Maine! On the beach in front of a light house, a come in daily housekeeper and cook. I would write, and think, rest, relax. Ahhhhhhhh. Never happened!

light house near beach picture

My fantasy retreat - Maine!

However, it looks as if this time it is actually going to come together. I have been thinking about it for months. In fact, I actually put it on my vision board and then took it off. I don’t really need that I assured myself. I can work at home. I don’t have to answer the phone or the door. I don’t have to say yes to the next thing that comes down the line……Who am I kidding.

My daughter is going on a retreat of her own. There is a small break in her school schedule and she and her husband are going on a short trip. Her house is going to be empty! I could go there for a couple of days. It is in the same city, only a couple of miles from me actually. But it isn’t my house. It is someplace else. Someplace new. Someplace not teeming with daily tasks, people and things to do. Its an on-campus married housing unit. Definitely not Maine!  Hmmmmmm, might be perfect.

So I am going. Really. I mean it. I am going to pack up all the scraps of paper in my office, my notes to myself – ideas about projects, thoughts about change, decisions about moving forward in this way or that. Yup, I am going to pack them all up and go to my daughters, sort them out, engage my head and think. Maybe make some decisions. Maybe. For sure I am going to have quiet, and space, and no phone! I think that it will be nice to be free of the daily expectations. There must be value in slowing down and having time alone. So here is how I finally went on a retreat.

There are seasons of life where much time alone is not really possible or feasible, but even an hour or two at a park with a book can do wonders! It has taken 61 years but I do believe that a retreat is in my immediate future. Stay tuned and I will tell you if it made any difference.

DO YOU TAKE PERSONAL TIME FOR YOURSELF?
HAVE YOU EVER TAKEN A PERSONAL RETREAT? WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE?

 

Possibly Related Posts:


{ 2 comments }

The “nothing special” Traveling Closet Day

by Mary Ann on October 3, 2011

paint bottle pictures

Last weeks "no topic" Traveling Closet

I write every Monday about the wonderful things that I have done the week before with children. I use the Traveling Closet and I do this to give you lots of ideas for your own Closet experiences.

However, I don’t want any of you to get the idea that every day or every week has to be filled with fabulous, well researched stuff. Frankly, I like you, have a down day or week every now and then. There are times when I just want to kick back and rest. Then there are times when an intervening circumstance makes it necessary to do something different.

Both of those things together have combined in the last two weeks and so today is going to be an example of a Closet designed to have fun, join in family events and frankly, not stress out and just be together.

I didn’t do any big planning for this week. I didn’t go to the library for some fabulous books. I didn’t do any research on the internet for crafts or projects. I didn’t have a wonderful topic in mind that I wanted to introduce my grandchildren to.

kids making cinnamon snakes picture

Making cinnamon snakes for the "fun" of it

On my way to my grandchildren’s home I bought a package of biscuits. I wanted to make cinnamon snakes. When I got there I set the Closet down and the children started looking at the contents. I announced that we were going to paint and cook. Jack replied, “OK grandma. First we cook and then we paint.” So that is where we began.

There was no reason to make cinnamon snakes. I didn’t have a book on snakes or any intention of learning about snakes. I just know that the children like to cook for its own sake. So we began our day with cinnamon snakes. I didn’t realize that rolling dough into a snake would take a bit more dexterity than they had. We had to practice. When you work with children you just can’t mind a bit of dirt in the finished project!

kids painting grandpa's shooting range

Helping grandpa make a shooting range

My husband is creating an air gun shooting range for himself. He had cut out a number of small wooden animals to put into one target. So, we all helped paint grandpa’s animals so he could put them in his range.

I just gave each child a brush a large piece of paper and a wooden animal. Then we poured the paint right on the paper. When they were done and wanted another animal and another color we just traded papers. Grandpa was very satisfied with the result. This particular range won’t have his usual perfection but it sure has memories and will be fun to use.

where everything comes from book picturesI had discovered a very old book about where things come from in my library. It has no cover and has been read over and over by many children over the years. The explanations are not scientific and the pictures are not precise, just fun. It tells in simple language that the things we use everyday such as plastic, coal, glass, rubber and electricity can come from some pretty unexpected sources.

I had a coloring page of a darling ladybug. I thought we might review what we had learned a few weeks ago. No dice! No one wanted to color or talk about ladybugs. Not even Maggie who loves coloring pages!

That was it. We had a fun time and enjoyed being together. We helped grandpa out. It was a peaceful Traveling Closet day.

By the way I have a new camera. I am sure you can tell. I would apologise for the poor quality of the pictures but then everything has a learning curve. Right?

I would love for you to share some of your successful learning experiences. Leave it in comments below or email [email protected]. : )

Book on where things come from for kids:

Where Everyday Things Come From by Aldren Watson (available at Amazon book)

Possibly Related Posts:


{ 0 comments }

The most powerful experience with his children-Glenn Morshower

by Mary Ann on September 30, 2011

glenn morshower actor pictures

Glen Morshower, husband, father, actor

This is Part III in a three part interview with Glen Morshower in June 2011. Enjoy. PartI can be read at Interview with Glenn Morshower on parenting

Question 3 – What is the most powerful experience you have had with your children?

Glen – The years that my children were teens were really powerful, helping them with first loves and breakups. My children felt at ease with their parents and we would take cheerful walks and talk.

In our family we had a motto of sorts – you can share everything that you are comfortable sharing (which is to say, that you don’t have to share anything you don’t want to). The door was wide open no matter what it was they felt, said or did.

We created a safe place to fall. We were a safety net for our children and they used that net lots of times. Our children knew “You are gonna be loved here!”

Mary Ann – After Glen shared this with me he said, “I am going to tell you something I have never told anyone else. I have never said this in an interview before. This is about my greatest pain and the Team Kiss”. What he shared was really beautiful and I feel privileged to share it with you.

Glen – I felt that this idea was a whisper from God, the Team Kiss. My children are 29 and 31 and we still do the Team Kiss. Let me tell you the history of how it came to be.

“My mom and dad divorced when I was three. It was a painful time. I learned early on that there is a purpose to the gifts we are given in life, even those experiences that are painful and are rarely viewed as gifts. My experiences were a gift and taught me character and gave me something to transcend.

I developed an awareness about life that I consider heaven’s gift to me. I became wide awake. I learned compassion and gained understanding and those are the things that I brought to my parenting.

There are two things that those who cross our path can give us.

• There are those give us a clear road map of how to live our life. They model excellent behavior and we should embrace the experience.
• There are those who will clearly model how not to live life.

Instead of choosing what you want, choose instead the consequences you want. Make consequence-based choices. This leads to a healthier, happier life.

As adults, we need to be careful not to use “victim speak”. Making excuses for our bad behavior or blaming circumstances for our bad behavior is unhealthy. Take the responsibility for your choices and make them consequence based.”

In later years my mother and father began to be civil to each other, they began to heal. It was then I had the idea for the Team Kiss.

Here’s how it works. Both parents kiss a cheek of their child at the same time. It is a double kiss. To this day it is my children’s favorite kiss.

The Team Kiss is a reassurance.  The two people who love you and made you have their lips on your cheeks at the same time. A child can breathe in both parents simultaneously. No matter what is happening out their in the world they are reassured that these two people love them.

Mary Ann – All of my children are grown but I am going to institute the Team Kiss beginning today with my children and their children. It is another way that I am going to use to take the responsibility of making a course correction in my family tree.

I hope you have enjoyed Glen’s words and wisdom as much as I have. I loved talking with him and look forward to the next conversation. Let’s remember the most important things he has shared.

  • Everyone who crosses your path is there to help you
  • Give your children unconditional and powerful love and affection
  • Be gentle
  • Listen to your children
  • Give children the freedom to learn and love them through the process
  • Don’t try to control the outcome
  • This is a choice/consequence world
  • And most importantly “Do unto others as you would have the world do unto you!”
glenn morshower as aaron pierce of the FOX hit series 24

Morshower as Aaron Pierce in Fox’s 24

Glenn Morshower is regarded as one of the busiest character actors inHollywood. Best known for his role as Aaron Pierce on the FOX hit series 24, Glenn has a hugely successful acting career spanning 35 years.

“The Extra Mile” is a series of performances which are written and performed by Glenn Morshower. The program is a combination of motivation speaking, story telling, dramatic and comedic performance, acting instruction, and life coaching. Thousands, including a good number of celebrities, have attended these events across the US. You can learn more about it here.

Share Glen’s thoughts and experiences with those you love by clicking the links below.

Possibly Related Posts:


{ 0 comments }

The Five Rules of Engagement REALLY Work!!

by Mary Ann on September 28, 2011

Gilbert family picture

The Gilbert Family

This last week I spent three days in three cities teaching parents the Five Rules of Engagement and how they can have deeper educational experiences, sweeter family relationships and brighter ideas. It was so much fun.

I am really passionate about the Five Rules of Engagement. I am really passionate about parents coming to a place where they parent from a position of confidence and not guilt and discomfort. I am all about helping others see their children as they are and deeply loving them.

There is something wonderful about helping families be together for longer periods of time and love it. It is amazing to see a family create magic in their own home with a very simple educational tool called the Closet and then transform themselves, as a family, by implementing the Five Rules of Engagement.

It doesn’t take a lot of money, time or resources. All it takes is a willingness to try something new, changing how you see your children and reprograming some of the stuff in your brain. Then magic really happens.

Don’t believe me. Here is a letter from one of those super moms I spoke with last week. Believe her!

Dear Mary Ann,

I just wanted to let you know how much we are already enjoying the Closet Mastery Course. I listened to the first lessons on Friday, put some things together on Saturday and started on Monday.

I wasn’t sure how things had really gone until this morning (Tuesday) when my 12 year old and my 6 year old showed up in the bedroom at 6:45, asking to start school right then! Good thing I was lying down – I may have fainted then and there.

I love how our learning is so much fun now! Our day started with Hot Wheels math, writing problems on a chalkboard, then to the kitchen for pudding, which evolved into color theory play with food coloring- first in the pudding, then in glasses of water. You should have seen the look on my 4 and 6 year olds’ faces when they discovered how to make orange.

I am just so, so thrilled. I just now listened to the lesson on sparks and great ideas. Wonderful stuff!

Fun and magic have been completely missing from our curriculum driven schooling experience. Thanks for giving us our spark! This is really is going to change everything for us.

With love,

Kristi Gilbert

Do you want to know more about the Closet, the Five Rules of Engagement and helping children love learning? If you would like to have a free 2-3 hour presentation in your home school community contact the Home School Coach at [email protected] and you too can have children that love learning so much they will wake you up at 6:45 saying, “Let’s have school now!”

 

 

Possibly Related Posts:


{ 0 comments }

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →