Thank You
Thank You All
First of all I want to thank all the moms who responded to my journal yesterday. I was so nervous but as I have said too many times all ready... I felt like I had to write it.
I did not open the door to just let some people have a free for all gripe session... Nor was I just going on a rant.
I also hoped as I said to help other newbies and potential newbies know their voices will be heard and respected.
I'm all too often too honest for other people's comfort... At my age and time of life and what I've been through in my life... I'm just going to have to be who I am more or less. I didn't mean any unkindness so I am satisfied that I did what I needed to do.
Second I want to thank Teri. I was really worried most about how the administrators would react to my post. I am so grateful for Teri's positive supportive response. I am not really surprised Teri. You strike me as a person who truly wants to be kind, and sweetness... I think we'd all agree you're hitting all the bells and whistle... *Smile*
Now... regarding ideas for the future... Let me see... give me my spiral notebook honey.... no... not that one... the big one... the 5 section 200 pages one... I still have a couple more pages I can add notes if I need to... Yes I'm yanking your chain... Blame it on Cara... she prods the little devil in me... LOL
How can the administrators work to make things better if no one ever says they'd like to see some improvement... You would be surprised at some of the private messages I have received.
To those moms who did private message me, please be assured I am a person who respects the rights and feelings of others. I will not disclose who wrote to me.
If you think it would be of help though I hope you will write to an administrator so that perhaps your negative experience can be avoided in the future. I do believe Teri when she talks about the dedication and energy it takes to make these retreats happen. I saw it in action. I know it is true. I don't believe anyone did or didn't do anything out of malice. We are all adults with many years of raising our families and all the skills that encompasses. I think by working together we might even find creative ways to help ease the first retreat experience.
I too liked the idea of name tags. I also like the TLC that Jill mentioned. The fragileness that many of us have talked about is very real... As I wrote about to another mom just a day or so ago... It seems like sometimes we feel so fragile and wounded that minor bumps seem like mountains... so yes... perhaps we're overly sensitive... we are fragile... and I agree with Jill... We need lots of TLC... we need to give it and receive it.
I have to say that even with a name tag I would have felt haunt as the young'uns might say... well they might have 20 years ago... I have no idea what term they're using now... LOL So, I like Marlene's idea of having some of us who aren't newbies have the cell phone number of people who are arriving and as soon as they check in ask them to call their SOTH mom and let her know so she can go and walk with her to the first meet where ever it is... I am going to try super hard to try to get there the day before the "official" beginning of the retreat to try to help me deal with the jitters... because frankly... I don't know how long it will take me to be comfortable...
So... can she finally sit down and shut up... Yeah... for a bit... but I told yall... I is what I is... or is that... I yam what I yam... which one would be proper... oh well... Yall have a great weekend. Please. Hugs Elissa
First of all I want to thank all the moms who responded to my journal yesterday. I was so nervous but as I have said too many times all ready... I felt like I had to write it.
I did not open the door to just let some people have a free for all gripe session... Nor was I just going on a rant.
I also hoped as I said to help other newbies and potential newbies know their voices will be heard and respected.
I'm all too often too honest for other people's comfort... At my age and time of life and what I've been through in my life... I'm just going to have to be who I am more or less. I didn't mean any unkindness so I am satisfied that I did what I needed to do.
Second I want to thank Teri. I was really worried most about how the administrators would react to my post. I am so grateful for Teri's positive supportive response. I am not really surprised Teri. You strike me as a person who truly wants to be kind, and sweetness... I think we'd all agree you're hitting all the bells and whistle... *Smile*
Now... regarding ideas for the future... Let me see... give me my spiral notebook honey.... no... not that one... the big one... the 5 section 200 pages one... I still have a couple more pages I can add notes if I need to... Yes I'm yanking your chain... Blame it on Cara... she prods the little devil in me... LOL
How can the administrators work to make things better if no one ever says they'd like to see some improvement... You would be surprised at some of the private messages I have received.
To those moms who did private message me, please be assured I am a person who respects the rights and feelings of others. I will not disclose who wrote to me.
If you think it would be of help though I hope you will write to an administrator so that perhaps your negative experience can be avoided in the future. I do believe Teri when she talks about the dedication and energy it takes to make these retreats happen. I saw it in action. I know it is true. I don't believe anyone did or didn't do anything out of malice. We are all adults with many years of raising our families and all the skills that encompasses. I think by working together we might even find creative ways to help ease the first retreat experience.
I too liked the idea of name tags. I also like the TLC that Jill mentioned. The fragileness that many of us have talked about is very real... As I wrote about to another mom just a day or so ago... It seems like sometimes we feel so fragile and wounded that minor bumps seem like mountains... so yes... perhaps we're overly sensitive... we are fragile... and I agree with Jill... We need lots of TLC... we need to give it and receive it.
I have to say that even with a name tag I would have felt haunt as the young'uns might say... well they might have 20 years ago... I have no idea what term they're using now... LOL So, I like Marlene's idea of having some of us who aren't newbies have the cell phone number of people who are arriving and as soon as they check in ask them to call their SOTH mom and let her know so she can go and walk with her to the first meet where ever it is... I am going to try super hard to try to get there the day before the "official" beginning of the retreat to try to help me deal with the jitters... because frankly... I don't know how long it will take me to be comfortable...
So... can she finally sit down and shut up... Yeah... for a bit... but I told yall... I is what I is... or is that... I yam what I yam... which one would be proper... oh well... Yall have a great weekend. Please. Hugs Elissa
Replies
You\'re sweet!
I wish I had a nickle for every time my cell rang while in Boston! Just say\'n!! First panicked call usually came around 5:30am EVERY morning, and the last one around midnight EVERY night.... But hey, that\'s what \'m here for...putting out fires, and helping where I can.
And yes, I \"want\" to be sweet......but hell, I don\'t always achieve sweet!! Sometimes I\'m a real biotch!!! hehehehe!
Love ya girl!
I think it\'s quite good to try to improve things, and we all know how much effort goes into the retreats. But there\'s always room for improvement. Because I\'ve been on so many European tours in the last year (this will be my third, I feel like I have maybe gone a tad overboard - no pun intended lol), I know an awful lot about \"guided tours\". The durable name tags can be kept; 206 Tours uses heavy duty plastic on a heavy duty \"ribbon\". First name, then FMO. Place to \'report in\' upon arrival at hotel with instructions left at the front desk in writing (any good hotel will accommodate a group). Cell phone exchange (kinda like as a senior in hs I had a freshman \"buddy\" for a few weeks to help her along) for Moms who are new to the experience with Moms who are old timers, great idea. Hotel should be willing to set up special area in bar or restaurant with a sign FMO, most are quite obliging. Greeter should be present, one of the organizers or two to share the burden, to make introductions. I\'ve noticed, from my tour experience, that people on the same \"journey\" normally develop interaction and friendliness quite easily (mind you, I\'m talking about spiritual pilgrimages) but these retreats ARE spiritual and emotional pilgrimages so the attraction to one another is strong to begin with. It\'s not a simple thing to organize a meeting of any group, let alone one that requires travel to a \"strange\" place. The most important thing is that everyone is met personally, has a contact available, and has information on where to go and when to be there. After the first few hours, it seems to take off on its own. I think these are good ideas.
Always room for improvement :)
Great ideas... I love the partnering one especially...we did it in nursing school...we got a little sister to get through the first few months ..same idea
I am glad you opened up this discussion. I think you have expressed the views of a lot of moms. I found Boston a bit overwhelming because there were so many moms there! And I have NO memory for names!
I think the board has done a fantastic job but I suspect it is hard to keep up with us!
Love and hugs,
Marlene
As one who has not yet attended a retreat, I can only say what I think I would feel, arriving at a strange hotel, knowing no one and having no idea what to do, or where to go. It would scare the s#*t out of me !!
Name tags....now that is a great idea. Using the buddy system another great idea. I think everyone should have some input, as it can only help us all!!
You know what, like Teri said, we can all be biotchs once in awhile, lol...
(((HUGS)))...Julia
I learned in my chaplaincy training that if \"I don\'t know, I can\'t grow.\" I truly hope that everyone will feel okay with sharing their experience because then we can try to iron out some of those unnecessary creases in the future.
Bottom line is that it is up to me to create kind of experience that I want to have and I told the Board that if each mom takes at least one thing from the retreat that felt healing or was a \"moment\" for them then I feel the retreat was successful.
As Karen said there is alway room for improvement so I hope that others will feel comfortable to share as you have. It takes a village and what an amazing one we have here in FMO! We ROCK! :)
Hugs,
Joanie