By MADDY VITALE
Sometimes moms need some time to decompress and just relax. But sometimes there isn’t the opportunity, especially when caring for a child with disabilities.
That is where “A Mother’s Rest” (AMR) comes in. It is a national network of non-profit, respite retreat inns created exclusively to serve mothers and other caregivers of children with special needs.
Scarborough Inn at 720 Ocean Ave. in Ocean City has become a “Porch Partner,” as AMR refers to inns that offer vacations for mothers on AMR retreats.
The last retreat at the inn was in July and there will be another three in September and one in October.
Innkeeper Sne Avichal said that the inn is delighted to welcome the mothers for the retreat.
“The relaxation may dissipate when they return to their daily lives,” he said. “But the expanded support group they’ve found stays with them.”
AMR Founder and Executive Director Andrea Faris Roberts said the goal of AMR is to provide affordable, frequent, local respite opportunities for parents and caregivers nationwide.
Any caregiver who has a loved one with a disability and/or chronic illness, along with all foster and adoptive moms, are welcome. They register directly through AMR at innkeeper@amothersrest.org.
She spoke of the importance of partners, such as the Scarborough Inn, which offer immeasurable health benefits.
“Beyond the ability to sleep uninterrupted for three nights, having a retreat and fellowship with other caregivers to look forward to gives these families hope,” she noted.
Avichal, who took over Scarborough Inn in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, said that the wraparound porch gives guests a feeling of togetherness, rather than isolation felt by many during the pandemic.
He compared the feeling of isolation during the pandemic to that of what mothers may feel at times when dealing with children who have special needs.
“As indoor gatherings were still prohibited, it quickly became apparent that the single most important part of the inn was the front porch,” he explained. “It was a safe place for social distancing while still meeting others in the same boat as you.”
“These moms definitely need the respite. But, in my view, it’s even more important for them to know they’re not operating in isolation,” Avichal continued.
Mothers take advantage of the special respites. Scarborough Inn became an important respite partner in New Jersey, Faris Roberts said.
There are moms from Cape May County, as well as other counties in the region, who take part in the AMR vacations, Faris Roberts added.
The success of the program would not be possible without partnerships such as that with the Scarborough Inn, she said.
“To have a Porch Partner with as many rooms as they do, that is able to offer so many weekends and retreat times each year, 10 in 2022 alone, is a true blessing,” Faris Roberts said. “And the fact that it’s at the beach is an amazing bonus, no matter what time of year it is.”
Scarborough Inn Client Manager Monica Maxwell said the mothers had an enjoyable time during the July stay.
“They took this time at the inn and used it exactly how they wanted. Some slept in, maybe for the first time in a really long time,” Maxwell said. “Others went shopping, exploring the beach or Boardwalk. And others took a crafting class on our porch. Some just sat on our porch in our rocking chairs listening to Sne’s (Avichal) favorite 1930’s jazz music playlist.”
A Mother’s Rest, as a 501c3 nonprofit, relies entirely on donations to support the respite events. For more information on the Mother’s Rest mission, retreats, and how people can help, visit the website or email at innkeeper@amothersrest.org
