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A transformative, 19-session workshop that helps moms build the skills and self-confidence to become the best mothers they can be

Trauma is widely prevalent among parents, and it can affect mothers' ability to form healthy relationships with their children. Amazing Moms! is the first thoroughly trauma-informed curriculum designed specifically to help mothers unpack their personal histories and learn techniques for becoming better parents. Covering an unusually broad list of topics, from emotional regulation and discipline to families of origin and societal expectations of mothers, the sessions create opportunities for interactive learning and personal growth.

Amazing Moms! accommodates all learning styles and includes activities to help create a trusting atmosphere where participants feel safe opening up and engaging with the material. The curriculum also features:

• Small group activities, grounding exercises, and participant-led lessons
• Activities that incorporate art, physical movement, roleplays, and between-session exercises
• Practical skills and tools mothers can use with, and teach to, their children
• Enhanced communication skills for healthy conflict resolution
• A candid discussion of sex, sexuality, and intimacy, and how to begin having healthy dialogue about these topics with children
• Strategies for finding balance and prioritizing self-care
• Exploration of the changing roles and expectations of women and mothers, woven throughout the sessions
  Based on current scientific evidence and developed by leading researchers and practitioners in the field, Amazing Moms! offers a unique perspective on motherhood, connecting participants with themselves so they can better connect with their children. Amazing Moms! is both inspired by and a companion to the Amazing Dads! Curriculum.

Inhalt

Acknowledgments xv

1 Research and Theory 1

Female Socialization 2

Values- Based Paradigm 3

A Trauma- Informed Motherhood Curriculum 4

Female Socialization and Trauma 9

Women with Trauma: What Happens Next? 11

Why Focus on Mothers? 12

The Danger of "At Least ..." 13

Toxic Water and Traumatic Stigmatization 15

Healing Mothers' Trauma 15

Conscious Femininity and Conscious Motherhood 16

2 Facilitating the Amazing Moms! Program 19

Toxic Water 19

Supporting Conscious Femininity and Conscious Motherhood 21

Structure and Content of the Program 22

The Facilitator Philosophy 22

The Facilitator 25

Creating and Maintaining a Safe Container 26

Consistent Communication 26

Consistent Structure 26

The Healing Journey for Facilitators 28

Supervision and Facilitator Self- care 29

Facilitating the Program 30

Surface to Depth 32

Five Relational Postures 32

The Sessions 33

Facilitator Notes and Suggested Dialogue 34

Timing 34

Components of the Sessions 35

Check- in 35

Breathing Exercise 35

Grounding Exercise 36

Feelings/Body Check- in 36

Lectures 36

Interactive Lectures 36

Discussions/Focus Questions 37

Subgroup Discussions 37

Activities 37

Debriefing 38

Check- out 38

Assignment and Close 38

The Different Learning Styles 39

Organizational Considerations 39

Assaults on Our Bodies and Minds 40

The Workbook 40

Conclusion 41

Facilitator Survey 43

References 45

Meeting 1: Engaging the Mother Within 47

Pre- meeting Notes and Prep 47

Meeting Overview and Suggested Timing 47

Introductions - 15 minutes 48

Orientation to Program and Group Agreements - 20 minutes 49

Grounding and Relaxation Exercises - 15 minutes 52

Expectations - What Do You Want to Get Out of This Group? - 15 minutes 57

Group Discussion: What Is Motherhood? - 35 minutes 58

Commitment to Conscious Motherhood - 5 minutes 59

Check- out - 10 minutes 60

Assignments and Close - 5 minutes 61

Meeting 2: The Woman Rules 63

Pre- meeting Notes and Prep 63

Meeting Overview and Suggested Timing 63

Check- in Process - 20 minutes 64

Mini- Lecture: The Water - 10 minutes 70

Activity: The Woman Rules - 40 minutes 73

Activity: Components of Healthy Mothering - 15 minutes 79

Activity: Subgroup Discussions - 20 minutes 82

Check- out - 10 minutes 84

Assignment and Close - 5 minutes 85

The Feelings Wheel (reference for facilitators, included in participant workbook) 86

Meeting 3: Toxic Water 87

Pre- meeting Notes and Prep 87

Meeting Overview and Suggested Timing 88

Check- in - 15 minutes 88

Lecture: The Toxins in the Water - 25 minutes 90

Check- in Scale Introduction: What's Your Number? - 5 minutes 96

Small Group Discussion: The Shoes of Another - 30 minutes 97

Large Group Discussion: Cleansing the Water - 30 minutes 99

Check- out - 10 minutes 101

Assignment and Close - 5 minutes 101

Meeting 4: Cultivating an Intrapersonal Relationship of Compassion 103

Pre- meeting Notes and Prep 103

Meeting Overview and Suggested Timing 103

Check- in - 15 minutes 104

Mini Lecture 1: The Woman Rules and Internal Messages - 15 minutes 106

Mini Lecture 2: "Don'ts and Bes" in Relationships - 10 minutes 108

Small Group Discussion: Early Childhood and the Woman Rules - 25 minutes 112

Creative Activity: The Mother Inside - 35 minutes 114

Sharing of Drawings - 10 minutes 115

Check- out - 10 minutes 115

Assignment and Close - 5 minutes 116

Meeting 4.5: Assaults on Our Bodies and Minds 117

Caveat for this Session 117

Pre- meeting Notes and Prep 117

Meeting Overview and Suggested Timing 118

Check- in - 15 minutes 118

Mini Lecture 1: The Woman Rules and Violations of Our Bodies - 15 minutes 121

Mini Lecture 2: Consequences of Trauma After Violations - 10 minutes 123

Subgroup Discussions: Bodily Autonomy - 25 minutes 127

Creative Activity: Reclaiming Body Autonomy - 25 minutes 129

Sharing of Drawings - 10 minutes 130

Check- out - 15 minutes 131

Assignment and Close - 5 minutes 132

Meeting 5: Moms and Trauma: Breaking the Cycle 133

Pre- meeting Notes and Prep 133

Meeting Overview and Suggested Timing 134

Check- in - 15 minutes 135

Interactive Lecture: What Is Trauma? - 30 minutes 137

Interactive Lecture: Moms and Trauma - 15 minutes 143

Activity: The Colors of Life - 25 minutes 145

Check- out - 10 minutes 146

Exercise: Five Senses Mindfulness - 10 minutes 147

Assignment and Close - 5 minutes 149

Meeting 6: Making the Connections - Mental Health, Addiction, and Trauma 151

Pre- meeting Notes and Prep 151

Meeting Overview and Suggested Timing 152

Check- in - 15 minutes 152

Lecture: Adverse Childhood Experiences - 25 minutes 155

Mini- Lecture: Mental Health and Addiction - 5 minutes 158

Subgroup Discussion: Let's Get Real - 35 minutes 161

Activity: Juggling My Life - 25 minutes 162

Check- out - 10 minutes 166

Assignment and Close - 5 minutes 167

Meeting 7: Feelings ... Nothing More Than Feelings 169

Pre- meeting Notes and Prep 169

Meeting Overview and Suggested Timing 169

Check- in - 15 minutes 170

Mini- Lecture: Women and Feelings - 5 minutes 172

Mini- Lecture: Shame - 15 minutes 174

Activity: Digging Deeper and Sharing Feelings - 50 minutes 180

Activity: A Picture of Anger - 15 minutes 182

Check- out - 15 minutes 184

Assignment and Close - 5 minutes 185

Meeting 8: Exploring Family Dynamics, Past and Present 187

Pre- meeting Notes and Prep 187

Meeting Overview and Suggested Timing 188

Check- in - 15 minutes 188

Activity: The Man Rules - 15 minutes 191

Activity: Family Sculpture - 40 minutes 193

Discussion: Debriefing the Family Sculpture - 15 minutes 199

Activity: Creating Family of Origin Collage - 15 minutes 201

Check- out - 15 minutes 202

Assignment and Close - 5 minutes 204

Meeting 9: Father of Mine 207

Pre- meeting Notes and Prep 207

Meeting Overview and Suggested Timing 208

Check- in - 10 minutes 208

Activity: Sharing Family of Origin Projects - 15 minutes 211

Activity: Identifyin…