My guest, Dr. Gertrude Lyons, holds a Doctorate in Education, a Masters in Transformational Leadership and Coaching as well as a Masters in Psychology. She shares many personal and heartbreaking stories of her mother, Dorothy, regarding the many secrets that her mother never revealed. My guest's mom, Dorothy, was born in 1930, an era when most families kept family secrets, secret. My guest, shares some of her mother's secrets in her book titled, "Rewriting the Mother Code." Some of these stories her mother never shared with anyone until now. And she wouldn't be the first woman/mother, or the last to do just that,- to keep her secrets to herself. Dr. Lyons was an absolute pleasure to speak with and so full of knowledge which is most likely why she's able to help so many because of her broad background and her warm personality. Reshaping Mom Myths, Reparenting Ourselves, Reclaiming the Definition of Mothering and the Importance of Feeling Nourished Instead of Depleted are just a few topics that Gertrude is well versed in. She is a coach and works with individuals, couples, parents and families.
Dorothy was the eldest of two children. Her younger brother was well taken care of and able to continue on to higher education, mainly because he was male and in that era, women didn't really pursue higher education because culturally, that wasn't the norm. Women's place was in the home and raising the children.
One of the many things that my guest admired about her mother was that she opened up her own Children's Clothing store. Gertrude loved seeing her mom running a business that she was truly good at and enjoyed. Gertrude loved seeing a different side of her mother's personality, outside the home vs inside the home.
Unfortunately, the store only lasted so long because of Gertrude's father's wishes. Yes, he was supportive but only up to a certain point. He also gave Dorothy an ultimatum and Dorothy agreed and made some very difficult choices that very same day and never broke her promise. The couple did not have a particularly close relationship. Gertrude's dad worked and provided for the family and the two remained married for 27 years.
You will hear Gertrude share stories of the secrets her mother kept her entire life. Gertrude is so impressed and bewildered by her mother's ability to keep all of these compelling stories to herself and still be a mother, raise her children, run her own business and then continue on with another career working as an office secretary for the railroad in Detroit.
One of the many wonderful philosophies my guest believes in is that she believes that she chose her mother for "my soul's development." In other words, she continues, "my soul had reasoning and she was the perfect mother for me. We are together for a reason, admits Dr. Lyons.
Gertrude also shares stories of the process of writing her book as well as being brave when coming to choosing the title of her book, etc.
In Rewrite the Mother Code, Dr. Gertrude Lyons challenges the limiting beliefs and expands the concepts around what it is to be a mother. Through the pages of this book, Lyons blurs the lines that pigeonhole women into limited roles that ultimately disempower them. Rather than operating within a narrow conception of what mothering is, she invites readers to open themselves up to what is possible and see the truth: that all women mother, and that mother energy is accessible to all of us-including men. Rewrite the Mother Code is a celebration of motherhood, bringing spirituality and community back into the experience and empowering women to be what they truly are, the ultimate creators.
What it would be like if it was a commonly held tradition for the wise women in our Western culture to support women through the mothering process? What if children were raised by the community and not the isolated responsibility of one or two caregivers? What if all women were united as mothers and gave their full support to each other’s mothering choices? Rewrite the Mother Code not only envisions this world of conscious conception, pregnancy, and motherhood, but it also takes the reader into a movement that fulfills the ideals of a matriarchal-led mothering experience.
These ideals can open the doors for women to not only take part in the abundance of the world, but also make sure everyone else experiences it. Rewrite the Mother Code explores a world in which mothers feel valued and intrinsically aware that fostering their well-being is the keystone for conscious and harmonious living on earth—a world where there are enough resources for everyone, all life is valued, and decisions are made with everyone's best interests in mind, not just a few. It's a world where mothers are revered for their abilities to create (even ones without their own children, who journey through motherhood in many creative ways), a place where we can tap into our intuition and truly follow it.
Rewrite the Mother Code blurs the lines that pigeonhole women into limited roles that ultimately disempower them. Rather than operating with a narrow conception of what mothering is, it invites you to open yourself up to what is possible when you realize that all women mother, and that mother energy is accessible to all of us—including men.
In Rewrite the Mother Code, Dr. Gertrude Lyons shares her vast expertise, using her doctoral degree in education, combined with her degrees in psychology, transformational leadership, and her two decades as a coach for families, couples, and individuals. She has traveled the world and had spiritual experiences across the globe, which she brings into her work and writing.
Each chapter of Rewrite the Mother Code has thoughtfully tailored reflections, meditations, and rituals to help women get in touch with their innate mother wisdom and strength. This book is a ceremony and celebration of all forms of motherhood, one that collectively births a new revolution of empowered and embodied living.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
LINKEDIN:Gertrude Lyons, MA, EdD, PCCView Gertrude Lyons, MA, EdD, PCC’s profile
YOUTUBE:https://www.youtube.com/@rewritethemothercode
WEBSITE:DrGertrudeLyons.com
GENERAL TOPIC: Reshaping Mom Myths and Reparenting Ourselves
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