The Mama Retreat

https://dfwchild.com/mommy-burnout-part-2-how-to-fix-it/

https://www.cornerstone.edu/blog-post/what-is-creativity-and-why-do-you-need-it/

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/create

Do you ever feel burnt out? Does the daily grind wear you down? Are you bored of the monotony of the day to day? If you answered yes to any or all of these, then you need a creative outlet sister!

In this episode we dive into what it means and why it is important to have a creative outlet.

And before you get in the perfectionist mindset, having an outlet like this can look like so many different things!

Hang in there sister! You got this!

After listening to a 3-in-30 episode highlighting the tragedy of child drowning, Kaitlyn knew that she wanted to put her kids in survival swim lessons (after all--Brittany and Kaity spend a lot of their summers on a boat).

Kaitlyn found Little Squirts Aquatics in Northwest Arkansas, but she felt like she experienced more than just swim lessons. She felt like she was empowering her children with skills and confidence that would help them in years to come. In today's episode, we talk about the details of what those experiences were like, and how you, too, can empower your children and have a sound mind around the water. 

Our Guests:

Libby McFarland is the founder and owner of Little Squirts Aquatics in NW Arkansas.  For the past decade, she, her husband, Mike, and their two boys, Maxwell and Jackson, have called NWA home.  She enjoys spending time with her friends and family, playing sports, and cheering on the Razorbacks and Packers.

When her oldest son turned six months old, she researched survival swim programs in her area and was disappointed in the results. For nearly ten years, she worked as an accountant and grew tired of the corporate environment.  She wanted to pursue something she was passionate about while spending more time with her family thus becoming a certified Infant Aquatics swim instructor came naturally.

Nearly seven years ago, Little Squirts Aquatics was born.  Libby is proud to have grown her business to include two fellow Infant Aquatics instructors and two wonderful maintenance instructors.  She and her team recognize the importance of providing children confidence and appreciation of the water and look forward to continuing to serve NWA for many years to come!

Wendy Harris is originally from northeast Ohio, but now proudly calls Arkansas home. She resides in Rogers Arkansas with her husband Wes and their three beautiful children Logan, Mackenzie & Ellie. She enjoys traveling, is a hopeless Cleveland sports fanatic, and loves spending time with my family.

Growing up, her 12 years as a competitive swimmer, and work experience as a lifeguard and head swim coach instilled in her a love for the water and a passion for water safety. After experiencing a non-fatal drowning incident with her son during a traditional group swim lesson in 2019, she was on a mission to find something better.

After witnessing first-hand the skills and confidence all three of her children achieved in completing the LSA survival swim program she was inspired by the realization that she too could make a difference in the prevention of childhood drowning.  As a certified instructor it’s her mission to ensure as many children in NWA gain the skills to self-rescue and prevent any parent from experiencing the terror and grief associated with childhood drowning

Do you believe that social media ruins relationships and brainwashes humans? Or do you believe that social media is a force for good and builds connections among lonely mothers? How can you know if you're addicted to social media?

We're here to share some truths about social media and our thoughts on it. (hint: we're pretty middle grounded when it comes to social media!) But we also know how refreshing it can be to take a digital detox. Whatever you choose to do right now, we support you. Do it with intention, and we hope you can find exactly what you need. You can survive AND thrive, mama!

Join the discussion on Instagram at @the.mama.retreat. We can't wait to hear from you! 

This topic is near and dear to our hearts. It truly goes into all three categories of power, love, and a sound mind. 

We find power through faith that gives us the strength to get through life's trials. 

We find love for ourselves and those who surround us when we recognize that we are all a part of God's family.

We can have a sound mind when we can quiet the noise of a tumultuous world, and enjoy the stillness of a loving and faithful God. 

This is an introduction to guided meditation and how it can bring you more power, love and a sound mind into your mothering. You can do this guided meditation at any point where you need a calm moment. 

Sources:

https://mindworks.org/blog/what-is-guided-meditation/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/meditation/in-depth/meditation/art-20045858

https://mindfulzen.co/5-minute-meditation/#5-minute-relaxation-meditation-script