Good To Grow

A mother’s journey.

Ever since I can remember, I knew I would have a daughter. I wanted a child who would appreciate my porcelain dolls and other “girly” treasures as much as I had – but I also felt strongly about one day passing on the lessons that had shaped my female life. Perhaps I even wished I could replicate the complex, yet deep bond I shared with my own mother, who had become someone I could lean on, laugh hysterically with, take on adventures – and who later helped raise the very daughter I had longed for. Life with my daughter was a dream for the first five years, in which I took her travelling, attended our local Steiner playgroup, watched her learn to swim, made toys out of papier-mâché, embroidered cute designs on all her singlets, showed her how to cook, bake and ferment food and started our very own veggie garden. I then fell pregnant and gave birth to my second child, after which I felt myself slip away from my daughter due to the increasing demands of my newborn son. Managing life with two children turned our world upside-down and burst the magical bubble my girl and I had created together.

Celebrating the heroine within.

Ten years on and we’ve been through a lot – yet nurturing the mother-daughter bond we shared when she took her very first breath is as vital now as it ever was. Traditionally, living within a tribe helped to give a sense of identity and purpose to each individual and a rite of passage involved a ritual carried out when a new member was born, hit puberty, got married, had kids or passed away. Rituals also took place when someone left to join another tribe, where their “success” (or lack thereof) would have longstanding outcomes for the wellbeing of the entire tribe. In Australian Aboriginal culture the term “walkabout” is used when an adolescent is provided the opportunity to demonstrate the skills and knowledge required of the older community members to crossover into adulthood. Humans possess an undeniable need for connection and the biggest determining factor of whether we feel we have led successful lives still lies in the quality of our relationships. Encouraging independence in our teenage daughters, whilst remaining steadfast in our unwavering support as her mother has therefore become paramount.

As highlighted in the narrative template that has inspired countless stories, The Hero’s Journey is a sequence of events that also illustrates this transition to adulthood beautifully. The process includes these three essential stages: •

The departure – The hero(ine) leaves the familiar world behind with the help of a mentor figure and separates from their original “state” •

The initiation – The hero(ine) learns to navigate the unfamiliar world through a series of tasks aimed at testing, learning and growth that results in a newfound wisdom •

The return – The hero(ine) returns to the familiar community, born anew after having undergone an intense personal transformation. There is significance in this on many levels, including the communal expectation of maturity, holding oneself accountable to a higher standard, the public declaration of intent and the sense of accomplishment brought about through challenge.

A chance to pause and reconnect.

When a girl enters womanhood, she finds herself standing on the precipice of independence, whilst often battling with internal feelings of uncertainty and self-doubt. For her mother to take time to celebrate the unique gifts and talents she has to offer is what will push her to step out into the world with a newfound confidence. The Good 2 Grow mother-daughter camp, Quest to Womanhood, aims to replicate the concept outlined in The Hero’s Journey. This five-day nature retreat is for mums to help welcome their daughters to this significant new phase of their lives. Here is where we honour ourselves and model our own divine feminine and the connection we share as women of the same lineage through a sequence of meaningful and engaging activities. This retreat is a safe and sacred place where young women can feel empowered, inspired, recharged and reassured to take pride in who they have become, offering profound life-changing benefits to the new maiden and mother alike. To be part of this poignant journey into a flourishing new relationship between mother and daughter, click here. *Book before 17th of August to secure the earlybird price*