The Longed for Connection

Joelle turns 30 next week!
It’s hard to believe that my little girl is a fully grown woman and I am so proud of all that she is and all she’s stepping into.

Parenting has been a ‘major’ part of my life! To the extent that I have written three parenting books, run literally hundreds of workshops for parents and kids as well as working therapeutically with thousands of children and parents from around the world over many years.
Being a mum, especially with the added challenges of being a single mum, has allowed me to really experience many aspects of parenting so I could best support others.

It was such a joy to witness the beautiful mum and daughter who came up to Wind Spirit last week to rekindle and deepen the precious connection. Over the few days with the support of Journey work, ceremonies, gentle teachings and cooking:) the connection was gently and lovingly reignited and the underlying truth of their love was obvious. They went back to Sydney with huge smiles and open hearts. Here is their testimonial:)

Testimonial

'I recently had the incredible opportunity to attend a weekend retreat at Wind Spirit with my daughter, seeking a shift in both of our lives and hoping to strengthen our connection. The experience exceeded our expectations and it was an experience I'll cherish forever.  We immersed ourselves in a supportive environment that encouraged personal growth and deeper communication.

From the moment we arrived, we felt the warmth and hospitality of our gracious hosts, Sharon and David, along with their beautiful dogs, Yoshi and Juno.

The retreat offered transformative Journey Processes that allowed us to dive deep into our thoughts and emotions. One of the most impactful experiences was the fire pit ceremony which was a profound and powerful experience for both my daughter and me.  We each wrote down the things we wanted to release from our lives, and as we cast our papers into the flames, it felt incredibly liberating.  Watching our burdens transform into smoke symbolised letting go of the past and making space for new beginnings.

Sharon and David have put so much hard work and love into creating this beautiful sanctuary. It’s evident that every corner of the property reflects their hard work and dedication. The spaces they’ve crafted truly inspire peace and openness.

I left the retreat feeling revitalised, not just in my relationship with my daughter but also in my commitment to healthier eating habits.  I'm excited to continue this journey, and my time at Wind Spirit has truly helped kick start this positive change in our lives.  

Thank you, Sharon and David, for the transformative work you do. It is clear that you are changing lives! '

Contact Sharon for more info

This parent-child connection is so incredibly important for the healthy growth of our kids. it is the most important factor in them developing healthy self-esteem and confidence, feeling loved and worthy of whatever they want to do and be in this world.

When the parent-child connection is fraught, as often happens in the tween and teen years, this precious connection frays. Instead of you being the guiding light for your child during their dark and stormy times, they will unfortunately gravitate to their peers.

The key is to keep an open mind, healthy boundaries and a compassionate heart.  As the neural pathways in the brain rewire themselves during these often chaotic years, your children need your understanding and grounded presence more than ever. They certainly don't need your condemnation, constant expectations and anger to set them right!

And of course working on yourself is the most important thing you can possibly do so you can stay balanced, compassionate and connected in the heart space … even in the face of behaviour that might drive you to despair!
This is where Journey work helps enormously!

If you are at your wits end ...
if you lose it regularly with your child ...
if you have lost connection and they just don't listen to you ...
then consider some parent coaching or Journey work for you or your child.

I have always believed that healthy, loving connection is the key! When Jojo was a teen we went away for a few days every school holidays to regroup, reconnect and reestablish our relationship. For me it was incredibly important and in hindsight it helped us enormously to navigate the ups and downs of growing up and to really connect ... without all the distractions of life. It is especially true these days with the incessant intrusions and unhealthy messages from the internet that can have such a devastating impact on young minds.

Time away, especially in the healing, grounding presence of nature is a godsend to reconnect kids with their innate goodness, fun, joy ... and families!

So go camping in nature, bushwalk in a local forest, breathe in clean air, swim … and relax, laugh and reconnect with your precious child. Better still, come to Wind Spirit for a few days of magic to revitalise, reconnect and rekindle that precious connection. It just might just be easier than you think!!!

Private Retreat at Wind Spirit