My mother succeeded in making me understand a great deal …
indeed I owe to her loving wisdom all that was bright and good in my long night. ~ Helen Keller
Join us for May’s Healing Saturday:
Mothering – The role of nurturing in our lives
Being a mother requires a special type of skill, the ability to nurture. This talent is not just possessed by women, but it is one that embodies the word, “Mother.” It has become so closely linked with femininity that women who do not naturally nurture doubt themselves. While men who are nurturers reduce themselves and are cautious to appear wimpy. Yet, without nurturing we would be in a shadow world where people would not easily learn empathic skills.
As nurturer’s we may constantly struggle with boundaries, communication, schedules, etc… We can feel eternally on and exhausted. We all hear about mother’s working a full week, coming home cleaning, cooking and not understanding why their counterparts are putting in the same energy. Mother’s don’t seem to stop and are always thinking about what their children and lover’s need. Yet, we are not all peaches and cream. Mother’s work so hard they can build a level of resentment towards their partners and even towards their children. The shadow side of nurturing.
This resentment is spearheaded by the challenge of setting boundaries. Mother’s know they need more support, but challenged by asking for it. It seems it always ends up in an argument. It doesn’t really (or it doesn’t need to) but it does require a lot of commitment and work. It is always hard to get help from people that are not used to assisting in certain ways. It’s never fun taking on extra tasks. However it gets harder when we are working, cleaning, caring, nurturing, seeking self care and then debating over who should do what.
So what do mother’s need:
- support
- self care
- patience
- love
For this reason we present a special Mother’s Day Healing Saturday all about nurturing and motherhood. This event is for mothers, lovers, and everyone who knows what it is like to nurture and be nurtured.
On a Saturday of every month, Madison MFT joins forces with professional healers to share tips for your journey. The best part is that this helpful healing doesn’t stop with you! Your participation helps others: all proceeds are donated to a different charity each month.
- Event Date: 5/12/2012
- Time: 11am – 1pm
- Suggested donation: $25.00
- Proceeds go to: Family Care International
- Instructors: Melissa Kester, LMFT & Sarah Lebeck-Jobe, MS
- Location: Madison MFT, 271 Madison Avenue, Suite 1400
Join Melissa Kester, LMFT and Sarah Lebeck-Jobe, MS as they lead a healing group discussion about the meaning of mothering and your role as a nurturer. Together we will celebrate, question, and cherish the multiple emotional and practical facets of motherhood:
- What is motherhood?
- How do we nurture others and ourselves?
- What did you learn from your mother?
- Do you have to be a mom to mother another living being?
- Is the fantasy of being a mom different than the reality?
- How has your concept of mothering influenced the way you live your life?
- Ever wish you could push a button and stop being a mother for just one day?
Come join the discussion and receive practical tips about how to be nurturing to yourself! Please bring a photo or memento that symbolizes mothering or nurturing to you.
This month’s charity will be Family Care International, the first international organization dedicated to maternal health, which endeavors to make pregnancy and childbirth safer around the world. We ask each individual to bring a donation of $25.00 for this charity.
