Mama Connect Bend

09/24/2024

Our Fall Intentional Motherhood Circles are starting up again on Oct. 10 and registration is OPEN.

We also are looking to hear from YOU - moms in the Bend, Oregon and surrounding areas - as we plan future offerings. What would be most supportive and relevant to you?

We want to hear from you! The survey link is in the communication below (or you can find it in the comments). Please take a few moments and leave your feedback - it will help us immensely as we plan this year.

**REGISTRATION & SHORT SURVEY BELOW** Dear Mama, Fall is here, the seasonal rhythm inviting us to cozy up and begin the process of slowing down, taking inventory for the winter, and shedding what no longer serves us. And yet, the beginning of Fall is such a busy time. School and work rhythms return,...

09/08/2022

Intentional motherhood circles are starting up soon! We are so glad to be able to circle up again with compassion, intention, and curiosity as we remind one another of our belonging; that none of us need be alone in the journey of motherhood. We hope you will consider joining us. Circles begin the first week of October and meet every other week for 5 weeks. Spots fill up quickly, so be sure to register right away. No cost. Follow link in bio to sign up! (and swipe for a little reminder if you are feeling alone and unnoticed today).⁠
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"Don’t forget that you belong.⁠
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Even on the days when you wake up, tired and bleary eyed, feeling forgotten and yet needed so desperately by little ones at the very same moment. You might wonder if what you give is ever enough - oh, but it is.⁠
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Mothering is hard work.⁠
And it is sacred work.⁠
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It is never perfect or tidy or predictable.⁠
It will flip your world until it’s nearly unrecognizable and teach you to let go in so many unexpected ways, but it’s always worth it. But please know that even if you feel like you are failing (we all do sometimes) - you still belong here."

01/06/2022

Registration is now open! We are looking forward to this next season of intentional connection and sharing the ups and downs of the motherhood journey together with you. Coming up in January:⁠
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- Intentional Motherhood Circles (AM & PM - begins Jan. 13)⁠
- Intention Setting & Mala Making (Friday, Jan. 21)⁠
- Mama Morning: Monthly coffee & playdate hour (Begins Tues, Jan 11)⁠
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Details and registration available on www.mamaconnectbend.com (if registration doesn't load, try mobile version) | These events are open to all who identify as a mother. Masks required. We strongly urge all in-person participants to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

06/25/2021

What are Mama Connect circles all about? Ultimately, connection. Connection with one another, ourselves, the present moment, the sacred, God( or Source or Love or whatever word you choose to use and relate with). It is a place where healing and growth and refreshing are found, in the company of other moms; women who are on their own, yet similar journeys. We practice inclusivity and invite those from all perspectives and spiritual/faith backgrounds, believing our diversity deepens our conversation. We still have a few slots remaining for both of our summer fire circles and our Fall motherhood circles (now with a MORNING option), but what are the differences between the two?⁠⁠
Fire circles are a new, monthly gathering where participants only need commit to one night. We will start with a grounding practice, take some space to reflect and share, and then end with a ritual intended to help us move with intention in the coming days. There is no specific outcome, other than creating a safe environment to connect with ourselves and one another and just to be with other women.⁠⁠
Motherhood Circles (beginning in Sept.) are a closed group of the same individuals for 5 total weekly gatherings (we meet every two weeks), with a short reflection or focus sent out on the weeks we do not meet. Our reflections focus broadly across subjects that relate to motherhood, mindfulness, and our experience as women. This group allows more time for sharing and the ability to connect, build trust and get to know one another over the course of consistent bi-weekly meetings.⁠⁠
You can register at mamaconnectbend.com (link is in bio - please note there are technical issues still being worked through with using your computer, but it seems to work fine on mobile devices. If you can't register, please DM or email with your name & email to register that way.)

06/17/2021

In case no one has told you lately: you belong. This is the heart behind our motherhood circles - parents were never meant to walk this journey alone. As mothers, we are birthed in a way also, as we lean into the transformative work of motherhood. It is beautiful, messy, impossibly hard, and lonely at times. but, remember: you belong. Let's gather together in a safe space where we can share, cry, laugh and grow together, all while doing the hard and sacred work of leaning into our own shadows, so we can be present and intentional as we raise our children.⁠⁠
poem by (if you aren't following her, go look at her beautiful words and get prepared to feel seen!)

06/16/2021

Motherhood Circles: We're Back! 🎉🎉

An email just went out with more details, but for those of you who haven't signed up yet, I am thrilled to be able to also invite you into this space to reconnect.

But first, let's start here: how are you? How are you, really? We have all been impacted in different ways by the effects of the pandemic. Some of us can point to good that has happened in our lives; most of us have experienced loss and grief in some form or another. There is anxiety, loneliness, depression, uncertainty - which many of us as women & mothers already carry.

But the thing I have found is that in the company of women, we find such grace and comfort and strength. We find a return to ourselves within this century old practice of gathering in a circle to hold space for one another. We find our hearts and chins turning toward the future with hope in our chest.

So a few offerings: Fire Circles beginning next month and our Intentional Motherhood Circles starting up again in September. You can find all the details at mamaconnectbend.com/register (if you are having issues on your computer browser, try the link on your phone) RSVP as soon as possible to save your spot, as spaces are limited. These are in-person offerings, following current state and CDC guidelines, but if you are interested in a virtual option, please send us a msg and let us know.

CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOUR BEAUTIFUL FACES!!

06/10/2021

It's been a while - a long while! Our last post was back in September of 2020 and our Virtual Motherhood Circles went on hiatus as of December. The break was never meant to be this long, but as has been true for many of us - there has been so very much to carry over the past 14 months since the pandemic began and not enough space to bring everything along.⁠
But I have missed this space - missed each of you and the regular connection, encouragement and growth this community provides. So, this is a quick note to say: wheels are turning and dates are being penciled in and some offerings - both familiar + new - will be posted with details in the coming days.⁠
One more request: If you see this, will you give it a like? Our account has been so quiet, I wouldn't be surprised if our reach is very low and a like or comment would help in making this post more visible to our followers. If you want to be sure to stay in the loop and receive updates with information for upcoming gatherings, make sure you jump over to our website - mamaconnectbend.com - and sign up for our email list. ⁠⁠
Much love to you all, friends. - Becca

09/29/2020

"I shouldn't feel this way - I love my kids!" Ever had this thought before? Many of us had different expectations before entering motherhood and never imagined the assortment of feelings we would experience. But it's okay if you aren't always sure about this motherhood gig, if you long for time alone or feel like you're going to burst under all the pressures of parenting; if you feel anger or resentment toward your children, if there is a weight or sadness you carry throughout your day. Feeling this way does not make you a "bad" or unloving mom. You can love your children fiercely, and still have doubt and hard feelings arise; you don't have to always love being a mom to choose to still love your children unconditionally. The important part here is to accept that our feelings are valid, so we can move into responding to them in a way that promotes healing and love - and finding that appropriate and loving response always begins with listening.⁠⁠
Listening deeply to ourselves with compassion and a nurturing posture, acknowledging and even welcoming what we are feeling, remembering that our feelings don't define us or get to have any say on our worth. And then, as we listen with curiosity here, we are able to not only respond to our own feelings in a constructive and expansive way, but we are also able to pay more attention to our children's feelings and model this deep listening for them, too.

09/25/2020

Registration is OPEN (www.mamaconnectbend.com/online-community) for our online Intentional Motherhood Circles - and spots are filling up quickly! This is different than what we did last Spring - no online forum to post on or longer reads this time around. Here's what to expect:⁠
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🌸Intentional motherhood circles are groups of 5 - 10 mothers who commit to engaging with one another, reflecting and sharing in a closed, private virtual space on a bi-weekly basis.⁠
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🌸Each sessions runs 10 weeks, with live zoom call meetings every other week (5 meetings total).⁠
Wednesday Circle Meeting Dates: 10/14, 10/28, 11/11, 11/25, 12/9⁠
Thursday Circle Meeting Dates: 10/15, 10/29, 11/12, (skip 11/26), 12/3⁠
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🌸Circles happen via a private Zoom room, meeting for 1 hour.⁠
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🌸A VERY brief reflection and a few guiding response questions will be e-mailed the week before our meeting, with a link to our private Zoom room, as well as a reminder a few days prior.⁠
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🌸During our Circle, you can expect the following elements:⁠
brief welcome (some housekeeping first week)⁠
centering practice (this could be a short meditation, somatic practice, or something similar).⁠
group sharing - this will often be opened with a question based off our reflection theme for the week, but remains open-ended, as always.⁠
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🌸Participating in a circle is free, but if you are able to make a small donation, this helps pay for the cost of running this platform. Circles are made possible and funded by First Presbyterian church. You can make an online donation by following the link in our bio and clicking the link with this same description.⁠
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Tag a mama friend who might be interested below!

09/24/2020

Do you feel brave? Do you notice your own courageous heart moving through this world? Every morning, as you rise (perhaps with too little sleep) to tend and care to all the demands of the day ahead - even if you don't feel like it, even if everything is overwhelming and you are convincing yourself of the ways you fail or at the very least, that you are not doing anything well - I hope you can see that it is a brave thing to show up, day after day, to love another so deeply.⁠⁠
At times, motherhood can make your world feel so small and also, so all-encompassing you can't focus on anything outside of it; the rest of the world too much and too heavy. We can feel disconnected on all sides and wonder how we contribute or make a difference as we look at what others are engaged in at the moment. But don't let that word "small" fool you into thinking that what is right here in front of you is not important - it is some of the most important work. So, walk gently, speak with kindness to yourself, and perhaps even, take a moment to pause and offer a word of gratitude to your own courageous heart.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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09/23/2020

Hello friends! It's been quite the hiatus since I've shared on here, and what a year it has been! I ran across these words from Mary Oliver today and wanted to take a moment to acknowledge that there is so much going on right now and we are each holding a crazy concoction of feelings and stressors as we raise our kids and end up in these days where the workload never ends. But, with that, I also hope you will give into any little bits of joy you find throughout your weeks and not feel guilty about it. Even (and perhaps, especially) the small things: a hot cup of coffee, warm snuggles with your loved ones, any noticing of beauty - because, to borrow from Mary again, we only have this one wild and precious life (even through a pandemic).⁠⁠
And now - a little update: It's taken me a little bit to wrap my head around this year and how to continue with Mama Connect as we navigate this strange way of being, so I apologize for the quiet here. I have missed you all and our former ways of connecting.⁠⁠
While we are not able to meet in-person for our regular circles, we have a new offering this Fall, beginning Oct. 14 - a bi-weekly intentional motherhood circle via zoom. I know that for many of us, we are OVER Zoom - but for those of you craving just a little space to connect with others in your month, I am hoping to craft a short, yet meaningful time to settle, reflect and share with one another. It will be a little different than our usual circle format and I'm excited to share more information with you later this week. Although, if you are VERY eager, click over to our website (link in bio) and you can read all about it (and register!). Space is limited, so please sign up soon if you are interested!⁠⁠
Another thing in the mix: I am crafting some evening socially-distanced fire circles that will take place in-person and have no ongoing commitment. Details to come soon! Be sure to subscribe to our email list so you don't miss out on any of these chances to connect.

03/23/2020

"Just for a minute shift your perspective and picture your family as a sacred tribe. Think of your loved ones as a carefully chosen collective of souls who have joined - not by accident, but intentionally - for an important reason: to support one another's collective growth. Does that change how you see things and how you relate to them?" - Renee Peterson Trudeau⁠⁠
Many of us are finding ourselves home more with our families right now, which can bring out a whole range of emotions and reactions. Wherever you fall in that spectrum, first of all, know that your feelings are valid and there is no one right way to feel. Our entire world is being disrupted. We are being asked to shift in ways we never imagined a couple of weeks ago. I heard someone share how this has all been such a huge reminder of what really matters in life, pointing out to us the areas we have just been "sleepwalking".⁠⁠
What are the positive shifts you are seeing or experiencing through all of this? Will you share in a comment below?⁠⁠
Here is some more wisdom from Renee Peterson Trudeau that felt especially relevant during this this time. These are four ways she feels families can make the biggest impact in their to day lives:⁠⁠
"1. Be open to a new way of being: Be bold, do it different. Be willing to take the road less traveled. Open up to the possibility that there is another way of seeing and experiencing life and begin to imagine what that would look like for your family. ⁠⁠
2. Be compassionate and loving with yourself: treat yourself as worthy of the same self-nurturing, acceptance, and tenderness that are afforded your children.⁠⁠
3. Invite in playfulness and curiosity as you begin your journey; awareness is the first step towards positive change.⁠⁠
4. Get support — smart people do. It makes everything easier."