It's the original relationship, and it's also a relationship
that has been sentimentalized but not honored.
~ Lee Sharkey, Ph.D

I love you. I love you not.

Sometimes she's the last person you want to see . . . but the first one you call for advice. That's the seesaw of feelings between mothers and daughters. And something every mother and daughter can relate to.

When you're five, she's a goddess. When you're thirteen, she often becomes the most out-of-touch creature on the planet, and you can't get far enough away from her. Your primary form of interaction for the next five years or so is one word . . . "Mooooooooooooommmmmmm!"

And then, somewhere between your twenties and your thirties, if you're lucky, she becomes your friend again.

No relationship is quite as primal as the one between a mother and daughter. "It's the original relationship, and it's also a relationship that has been sentimentalized but not honored," says Lee Sharkey, Ph.D., who directs the Women's Studies program at the University of Maine at Farmington, where she teaches a popular course in mother-daughter relationships. "Women grow up and our energy is largely turned toward men, but the original love relationship is with a mother. If we as daughters don't acknowledge that, we're closing ourselves off from a great source of power and fulfillment and understanding of ourselves."

This retreat invites mothers and daughters to share beautiful and insightful experiences together: walks on the beach, meditation, small and large group exercises, quiet reflection, laughter, tears, chocolate and healthy meals . . . all surrounded by the nourishing beauty of the Cape Cod coast.

Through guided exercises, joyful play, and quiet introspection, we will explore trust, instinct, self-confidence, boundaries, and respect. You will be working, at times, in groups of just mothers and just daughters, as well as together. You will leave the weekend with a better understanding of yourself and the special bond you share as mother and daughter. This retreat is for mothers and their daughters over 21 years old.

Karen Ely is the founder and director of A Woman's Way, one of the country's premier women's retreat and workshop program located in Sedona, Arizona. Karen is the author of: Daring to Dream: Reflections on the Year I Found Myself published in 2006, which chronicles the end of her 32-year marriage, A Retreat of My Own, a women's personal retreat guide published in 2008, and Breathing Space: Mini-Retreats for the Heart & Soul published in 2011. Karen is an experienced facilitator with a commitment to assisting women in creating and living authentic lives of passion and joy.

Click here to learn how you can bring Karen Ely's workshops to your area.

April Ely (yes, mother and daughter!)

April is a practicing psychotherapist in Northern Arizona, specializing in work with children and families, women's issues, and grief and loss. She received her BA in Psychology at the University of Colorado and her MSW from Smith College. Most recently, she has studied mindfulness practices and is learning ways to incorporate mindfulness into her therapy practice and with children within the education system. She has lived in Arizona for the past 8 years, where she enjoys reading, hiking, and being with family and friends.

Chatham is considered to be Cape Cod's most beautiful walking Village, often referred to as the "Nantucket of Cape Cod." Our retreat venue, Harbor View Cottage, offers tranquil, beautiful grounds and stunning saltwater views of one of Chatham's spectacular ocean harbor inlets. Located just a short distance from Chatham Village and Hardings Beach, ranked by National Geographic Traveler as one of the top ten beaches in the U.S., it offers all the grace and nostalgia of a uniquely preserved former era. The perfect place to get away from it all ~ and deeply connect with each other.

~ Current Retreat Schedule ~

~ Registration Information ~