I was invited to attend the Tough Mother Retreat the weekend before Mother’s Day. The retreat was held at Chewacla State Park in Auburn. Prior to arrival, I wasn’t sure if I would know anyone else who was attending, but I was pleasantly surprised to see some familiar faces who also happened to be former contributors of this blog. I chose not to stay and camp Saturday night, but I thoroughly enjoyed the full 14 hours I spent with the group on Saturday.
The spring weather was absolutely perfect. The beautiful scenery of the park was a relaxing backdrop for the day’s events. After some time for coffee, breakfast, and introductions, we were able to participate in a self-defense demonstration provided by NinjaFIT. The techniques that were taught were new to me. I enjoyed the lesson and the way the instructors made it feel accessible for all of us to successfully master the moves and increase our confidence in our abilities.
Following self defense, we had the opportunity to engage in a dream casting session with Mac-Jane Crayton, the creator of Dream Mentorship. It was a really valuable experience where we were able to share our personal dreams and encourage one another. I could tell that Mac-Jane comes alive when she is speaking into the lives of other women. We were given dream journals so we can continue the work of making our dreams a reality.
We enjoyed a delicious lunch provided by BurgerFi of Auburn. The proximity of the park to downtown Auburn is a benefit for university students, local families, and out-of-town visitors. The retreat leaders curated a bountiful collection of gifts and goodies from many local businesses to share with us. The gift baskets we were given were full of many high-quality items that were useful for the retreat and beyond.
We explored the park a bit in the afternoon with a light hike. Others took advantage of the meditation space that had been set up with a hammock grove, sound bath, and books. There were also games available as well as snacks and drinks. I really enjoyed talking with all of the other women throughout the day. It made my extrovert heart full! One of the main goals the retreat founders have is to build community among local women in various walks of life. I hope to be able to grow those relationships by attending future Tough Mother events.
The theme of the retreat was survival, and they had arranged for a CPR trainer to give us a brief refresher course on adult, child, and infant CPR, AEDs, and choking. A couple of moms shared their experiences with kids choking, which is always a harrowing event. Thankfully, all reported that they were successful in using back blows and the Heimlich maneuver to remedy choking. Knowing life-saving techniques gives me some peace of mind as a mom of young children.
As the afternoon wound down, we went down to the lake and enjoyed a yoga session. I’m not experienced in yoga, but my new friend, Rebecca, whom I met at the retreat, has practiced yoga for many years, and she said several times, “Yoga is for everyone!”. That put me at ease and I didn’t worry about fumbling through the poses. Watching others step out of their comfort zone at different points during the day gave me courage too.
Dinner was catered by Taco Mama, which I had not tried before, but I hope to visit them soon for more tasty tacos! One of my favorite parts of the day was not having to think about what I would eat, and incredible food being served with no effort on my part. We commiserated about how mom life revolves around meal planning, prepping, cooking, and clean up! Having a reprieve from those duties was much appreciated.
After the sun went down, we gathered around a fire pit and made s’mores. The one who started the fire shared that it was her first time doing so, and we all cheered for her. Others contributed by gathering more wood, fanning the flame, rearranging the coals, and getting down on the ground to blow on smoldering embers. It was a beautiful picture of what women do best: supporting, cheering, and challenging each other as we walk alongside each other down our distinct paths.
I felt so honored to be included in this inaugural event. The culmination of so many sharing their gifts, knowledge, stories, and resources resulted in a priceless gift that I will cherish. I can’t wait to be with those women again and to meet new friends through future tough mother retreats.
