The first two days of Royalty and Romance were lovely. Although the information packet said we’d learn skills we could use in our every day lives, I’m not sure that’s true at all. My boss would probably not appreciate the sway. However, day three was a horrible experience. The first half of the day was a sales pitch. I know there is product to sell and I don’t begrudge that, in small bits like we’d seen tossed in the other days. But this was an entire 4 hours and was infuriating! I wanted to learn about communication and ways to improve my relationship. After lunch was a discussion of the sexual anatomy of both males and females. Like a horribly graphic high school health class on steroids. I am not a prude and don’t have any problem discussing sexual issues, but I do not want to hear about Kirk and Kim having sex every day for a year, the places they had sex, and what our genitalia is for (and how to clean it all up!). In a crowd of 500 it was inappropriate and uncomfortable. My husband and I are in our 40’s. We are not in need of instruction on what the penis and clitoris are for. We stayed because we kept being told that there was something great at the end of class. We were hoping the sex talk would end and we’d get some great gem like we’d had in the beginning. Instead it was a dance that the Duncans had made up, saying it told THEIR story, but then wanting everyone else to do it as well. It’s not OUR story.
I am glad I went for the first two days. We had a lovely weekend together! I don’t think it was worth taking two days from work - but I’m certainly glad the sex talk happened on the one day I didn’t have to miss work or I’d have been furious! I had family who was interested in attending and I recommend the first two days but warned that the last day was a waste of time, inappropriate, and nothing was gained. Shame on you for making this about sex (and not intimacy, graphic sex - Duncan sex on a beach and in the back of a car was not about love making and intimacy) but promising communication skills and relationship building. There was absolutely nothing about communication tools except that it was important to get sarcasm out of the relationship. But no tools and no practice.
I will say we loved the sway idea. And we’ve done our little books which has given us insight. That last day just left such a horrible taste in my mouth for anything Duncan related. I’m really disappointed about that. They are engaging and funny, I think they’d probably be fun to hang out with (but I’m not paying for it..geez). If you go to the conference just be prepared for day 3.
