And do you know what? They are surviving! No one is deprived. No one goes on and on about the same thing for weeks and weeks, they move on to something else. Keira knows we get presents and toys at our birthday and Christmas. They still get little treats, go to the movies in the holidays and what’s best is when I do bring something home for them as a surprise like colouring pencils, paper, or a dvd they get so excited about it. It’s tough love for some of you but do I want 5 primary schoolers making my life difficult whinging and whining for everything? No.
A big big thank you to April and Saren as well as Alia and Ashton their ‘helpers’ who came all the way out from the states to run the weekend. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me and really set me on the right track for the future. To Felicity and Naomi the aussie organisers who did an amazing job organising both the Gold Coast and Sydney retreats and also gave me the great giveaway opportunity, Carli who provided the gorgeous flowers (I didn’t realise she runs a florist with her hubby called Urban Flower) and was always in the kitchen and just a gorgeous person inside and out (we HAVE to get together again with all the kids and chat more!), all those gorgeous ladies in the kitchen who kept the delicious food coming (such healthy food! I loved that), Melinda one of my lovely blog readers who filled my giveaway spot at the last minute on the day and loved it, Sheridan for keeping me company and all of the gorgeous mums who I met over the weekend. I had such great conversations with mums who I had so much in common with. I’ve never been in a room with so many warm and friendly people before and I loved that! Everyone was just so friendly!
p.s someone noticed 2 Thermomix in the kitchen! True! I had to take a picture didn’t I!!!!!
Pleased to hear that your retreat was so wonderful and I’m sure that Retrodaddy didn’t mind driving the distances … so he could have the car
and the thermomix may have helped with such wonderful food for everyone 
Happy stithcing, P
Sounds like the retreat was fantastic!!! … Thankyou for the tips you’ve provided! I can see a few I think I need to start implementing around our house to help it run a bit smoother!!!
I felt about the same this morning at church (though I did only had the one child to look after) … Seriously, if I hadn’t been running a Sunday school group this morning (first time too!) we would’ve been gone before the worship was finished, she was that disruptive!!! … Thankfully she behaved much better once SS began!!
Corrie, I am so pleased you enjoyed the retreat. There are always things we can learn from others but I really believe that each family is different and each child/mummy relationship in the family is unique. Your own instincts can often provide you with the answers you need.
Have confidence in the power of a loving family and your own obvious innate mothering skills.
Dianxx
yay! Love it. Having systems makes things run so much more smoothly, I love it. So bummed that I was too sick to go along but really hope that I can get some of the resources from them anyway, given that I paid so much for it already. And don’t worry about the kids, they all have their moments! xx
Oh Corrie. I’m so delighted to read how useful you found the retreat. Thanks for sharing those tips. I had Janette at My Sweet Prints make our customised ‘Family Rules’ for Planet Baby which are brilliant. She loves custom orders – you should ask her! J x
Wow Corrie what a fabulous weekend of sharing and learning… all we do with our children now when they are young is for good and what gives them anchors in their life…it gives them stability that grows with them into adulthood when life gets a bit choppy.. to help cope with all the pressures of being grown up…and its good for them to hear NO cos when they leave home not everyone says YES… can’t wait to hear more of your weekend… and the DELETE button doesn’t hurt…I recently touched it so gently and deleted 7500 saved emails… and have only missed one in particular ..if it’s been read, delete it or save the info in a little book…I have and feel so much better… and my gmail is easier to open too…
Sweet Hugs … your a great mum and an inspiration…go girl x x x x
I love it that your children want to be in church and wanted children’s liturgy. That’s lovely.
HI Corie, it was so nice to finally meet you and discuss family and blogs! It was a truly amazing experience and the best mum workshop I have been to. I look forward to future retreats and workshops. You should consider being a Power of Mums presenter, if you can squeeze it in. If not I’ll snag you to be a panelist if I ever run my own:)I’m sure our paths will cross again:)
Good for you Corrie to open up and talk about the growth that happens in parenting. It is challenging and setting the tone now makes the kids into better people later. I have three really well behaved thoughtful children 16, 19 and 22 but I had my share of leaving places early, trying to hold my head up high and walk out of a grocery store minus a full cart. You are right – they are better off if you don’t give them everything now. We are able to pay for university (not everything but the tuition and board) because they did not get everything they wanted. It makes them think differently and their value system is great – Sarah went to Harvard dressed in second hand clothes – her choice, not mine.
Don’t beat yourself up when it doesn’t go well. And make sure you build in sufficient breaks for yourself so you stay sane…. As my father said to me when #1 was born – look after yourself first – without you she has nothing. Nancy in NS Canada
Sounds like an amazing weekend retreat! Thanks for sharing x I am a major list maker, and I do a weekly family schedule like a roster to make it clear who has what on when… school things, work things, visits etc… essential with two shift working parents with three little people! I’m a nurse and hubby is a copper, so shifts are all over the place, but we manage, just! Haha! xx
So fun to read your beautiful write-ups from the Retreat! You did a fantastic job on the panel, and you had so many other great thoughts and ideas to add. I loved getting the chance to talk with you a bit on Friday night.
Some of your readers seemed interested in clearing their counter piles. I have a Mind Organization for Moms giveaway that’s still going on at 5 Minutes for Mom at the bottom of my “Tickler File” guest post, if anyone would like some additional counter-clearing tips:
http://www.5minutesformom.com/52120/tackle-it-tuesday-tickler-files/
(And I’d be happy to offer you and your readers a M.O.M. giveaway in the future, if you’d like.)
Have a wonderful day!
Sounds amazing & i’m thrilled to say i do so many of those things you mention – children learning the word no & surviving, kind of helped that we didn’t have the spare cash anyway, no was easy to say, well we didn’t say no, just guided them to other things & our love & time!!
What a great weekend, gosh it makes me miss my husband SO much, i can’t imagine what an incredible family we’ll be when he’s home again, full time, only 2 more years, yikes, love Posie
Oh this is so beautifully written and I’m so glad you got to go and have such a great time. I sure wish I could have been there and met you…maybe next time;)
I’m sure Saren and April were so very grateful to have you there.
Much love, Shawni