Tummy Tubs

Have you heard about Tummy Tubs? They're a UK invention to make bath time more enjoyable for baby, easier for you and less stress for everyone involved. From what we've heard, if you're unable to take a bath with your baby, this is the next best thing.

With a Tummy Tub your cute baby is sitting in a bucket of water, which helps support her and keep her upright. You need to support her head under her chin, not her entire body as you would in a typical reclining baby bath. The advantage to the sitting position is that you have one hand free to wash baby.

The Tummy Tub keeps baby warm because she is covered in water and it is designed to mimic the womb, which helps calm and comfort a crying or frustrated baby. Your baby will naturally curl up in the fetal position, which adds to a calm and soothing bath experience.

So why not use a regular bucket? Makers of Tummy Tubs say that a regular bucket just won't cut it. The plastic of a household bucket may have toxic substances that can leech with warm water. A bucket can also have sharp corners or edges, whereas the Tummy Tub has rounded corners. A Tummy Tub is also designed clear, so you can see where how your baby is positioned and where to clean her.

Whichever route you choose, Tummy Tub or household bucket, let us know how bathing your baby goes.

Rhythm & Ritual: A Nuturing Night to Celebrate Your Pregnancy

A Dance for Pregnant Women
at SomaSpace, 4050 NE Broadway, Portland

~ Shake your booty & belly,
& share the power of this special time! ~

Welcome, welcome—it doesn’t matter when you’re expecting—if your body is growing a baby, this is your time to celebrate your power and love, in sweet connection with other pregnant women.

Friday, August 14th ~7:15pm to 10:15pm
7:15 ~ Arriving, stretching out, warming up, settling in…
7:45 ~ Opening circle

Pre-registration preferred to make sure this special event is a go.
$25 if payment received by August 7th
$30 thereafter and at the door
Advance work trade is available--please inquire.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Oregon Midwifery Council. For location info, visit www.SomaSpace.us. For questions/registration, email Claudia: baskindc@gmail.com.

o Dance Space with music DJ’d by Paula Byrne
o Sacred Space and interactive altars
o Opening and Closing Circles for intentions and heart-sharing
o Nurture Room for adorning your body (adornments provided), receiving massage from an LMT, sharing massage with one another, or relaxing
o Healthy, yummy treats for your body and baby

“All the time we wondered and wondered, who is this person coming/growing/turning/floating/swimming deep, deep inside.”
~ Crescent Dragonwagon

Mother's Advocate: Birth Information Packed Website

I came across this website by way of several sources, and I'd like to pass it on. There is a lot of information about birth available on the website by way of videos, handouts, and some links.

Wade Bowen's song benefiting Postpartum Support International

Wendy Davis, of Baby Blues Connection and Postpartum Support International, posted this video: Wade Bowen's song benefiting Postpartum Support International. If you are a partner of a woman with a postpartum mood disorder, visit the Baby Blues Connection's Tips for Partners, PSI's Family & Partners support resource list, and the Postpartum Dads Project. You and your partner are not alone; there is support available.

Pelvic Floor Work Class

Jen Warnock, a lovely lady and co-founder of Nest Midwifery, is co-teaching a class on female pelvic floor health at Birthingway College of Midwifery. It is open to the community, not just for Birthingway students, and for women only.

This class will cover anatomy, assessing and maintaining pelvic floor health, including low and high tone, with hands-on practice skills. Special attention will be paid to pelvic floor assessment can be useful during labor and birth and to postpartum moms. To read more about this amazing and under-utilized work, check out Full Moon's Daughter blog post from January 14, where Courtney Jarecki interviewed Dr. Bryan Baisinger about trigger point & myofascial release techniques to help during pregnancy and postpartum.

To find out the money and schedule details for this class, go here and scroll down to see this:

Pelvic Floor Health (PFH471) 1 credit hour. Course-pack $10. Five sessions.
Assessing and maintaining pelvic floor health, including low and high tone, with hands-on practice. Instructor: Pamela Echevario, CPM, LDM, and Jen Warnock, CPM
Date: Monday afternoons on 9/21, 9/28, 10/5, 10/19, 11/2/2009
Time: 1:00pm – 4:00pm

Mama Mantras

Jenn, mother of a 2 1/2 year old girl, works through some mama-guilt with a mantra. She writes:

Ever since my daughter was born I have struggled with guilt whenever I go out to have fun without her. I have to remind myself that she will be okay and that I deserve to have, and that is exactly what I say:

'She will be okay, and I deserve to have fun!'

So true! Thank you, Jenn!

[My child] will be okay, and I deserve to have fun!

Welcome with Love and Another Book Recommendation

Here is a follow-up on the previous post about book recommendations: My friends Kimberly and Jessi noted, on Facebook, that Welcome With Love is out of print and can be pricey on Amazon, but can be found in other countries with a different title: "Hello Baby". I have also found it with the Welcome With Love title used on Amazon, and new at Childrensneeds.com and Bestwebbuys.com.


Jennifer Fuentes from Milagros also recommended another lovely homebirth, co-sleeping, cloth diaper book called My Brother Jimi Jazz. Read her post about this book on the Milagros blog.

Children's Books: For Preparing Siblings

When families grow, many parents ask me about ways to prepare their children for the birth of and the adjustment to their new sibling. I have a few favorite books that I recommend to parents for these very reasons.

Baby on the Way

by Martha Sears, William Sears, and Christie Watts Kelly

illustrated by Renee Andriani

This book discusses pregnancy, changes in the house when a new baby is expected, a bit about labor, parents going off to "the place where the baby will be born", nursing, and sibling emotions.

What Baby Needs

also by Martha Sears, William Sears, and Christie Watts Kelly
illustrated by Renee Andriani

This book discusses the changes that occur in families when a new baby is born, skin-to-skin time, nursing, bottle feeding by other parent, co-sleeping, babywearing, welcoming the new baby into the family circle, making friends with the new baby, well baby checks, and a general baby's development in relation to interaction with siblings.

Waiting for Baby

by Anne Kubler

This book is a sweet illustrated book (no words) about pregnancy for a future sibling.

My New Baby

also by Anne Kubler

This is another sweet, illustrated book (no words) about a new sibling.

Welcome with Love

by Jenni Overend

illustrated by Julie Vivas

This book is a lovely homebirth book from a child's perspective.

Let's Talk Placentas

Placentas are the heart of connection between a baby and mother during pregnancy, literally anchoring the baby to the mother's uterine wall. In an intricate dance, the placenta gathers blood from the mother, pulls oxygen and nutrients, transfers them to the baby's blood system via the cord, and then sends the waste from the baby's blood back out to be excreted by the mother's body. This whole waltz happens without the mother and baby's blood ever combining. The placenta also produces hormones that are essential for many changes in the mother's body during pregnancy as well as the fetus's growth. It is a pretty powerful and important organ and not just during pregnancy.

After a baby is born, there are several ways that the placenta can be honored and utilized:

• In numerous cultures families plant the placenta under a tree. Some cultures burn or smoke the placenta first and plant the ashes, but other cultures plant the placenta directly in the ground. The tree's growth is a beautiful reminder and symbol of the child's growth.
• Some women encapsulate (or otherwise prepare) the placenta for ingesting. It has been said that placentophagy helps a new mother's body recover more quickly and lessens the chances of baby blues following a birth. For more information visit Placenta Benefits.info For a recipe visit Placenta Remedy
• A beautiful keepsake can be made by doing a placenta print. The placenta makes a tree-like shape when printed, and the print can be framed. The prints can be made before encapsulating or burying if you choose to do either (you would not want to use paint or ink for the print if you are going to encapsulate or otherwise ingest the placenta). Visit this webpage for more information on how to do the print. These websites both have a beautiful picture of a placenta print: http://www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_690_profile_portfolio__11_1_G.htm & http://www.beautifulbellies.co.nz/Placenta%20Prints.

I am also including two links to videos below. The first one is a step-by-step how to make a placenta print. The second one is a video of "the Placenta Lady" encapsulating a woman's placenta for her as her husband films and makes not-so-pleasant comments. Despite the commentary, the video is informative if you are interested. Both videos show placentas and blood, so if you do not want to see either, you might want to skip the videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHc-zV77JLY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuxeAbeDcU0

Bubbles: Teaching Children Breathwork

Yesterday, in the hot July sunshine, my children chased glossy bubbles throughout the garden. It reminded me of the work I used to do with young children who had experienced violence in their lives. Bubbles, as I discovered while working with these dear children, are quite therapeutic in many ways. They are fun, freeing, beautiful, and mysterious, but they also lend nicely to teaching children gentle breathwork. The gentle blowing that is required to form nice bubbles is similar to the slower gentle breaths one can use to relax. Bubbles are a portable relaxation tool!

First, I talk to children about noticing how they breathe. Then, I show them how to blow bubbles using a gentle inhale and a gentle exhale using their diaphragm. I also talk to children about noticing how their body feels when they breathe gently to blow bubbles; this promotes body awareness. I also want to be sure they do not hyperventilate or get dizzy from over-doing it.

Who says therapy is no fun?!

Filial Therapy

One of my favorite ways to support families is through filial therapy. What is filial therapy?

Filial Therapy is a research-based, approach that teaches parents how to use some of the same skills that play therapists use to help children. Research shows that motivated parents can be as effective as a professional in helping their child.

Typically, Filial Therapy is most beneficial for children ages 3 - 12. However, many children as young as 2 years of age and up to 13 can benefit from Filial Therapy. A modified form of filial therapy can be used with infants and toddlers. Filial Therapy is beneficial for both the parent and the child.

The following concerns can be addressed with filial therapy:

• Preparing for or after the arrival of a new sibling
• Reconnecting with a parent experiencing postpartum depression/anxiety
• Attachment related difficulties in biological/foster/adoptive families
• Depression, sadness, moodiness
• Grief & loss
• Moving
• Divorce
• Aggressive behaviors
• Excessively worries, anxiety, or separation issues
• Traumatic stress from events such as accidents, witnessing violence, abuse or a natural disaster
• Self-esteem or identity problems
• Nightmares/night terrors
• Needing to be center of attention
• School related difficulties
• Social issues

Goals and Benefits of Filial Therapy:

• Strengthened relationship with your child
• Develop a deeper understanding of your child
• Your child learns and understand their feelings
• You and your child learn to express feelings and communicate in healthy ways
• You and your child develop new problem solving skills
• Reduce or eliminate challenging behaviors
• Your child will feel heard and understood
• Your child can work through troubling issues
• Increased trust between you and your child
• Increased self-confidence and self-worth for your child
• It can increase your confidence in parenting
• Increase or repair your family's ability to have fun together
• Provide tools the family can use in the future

Filial therapy involves a commitment on your part, please read through the information on the filial therapy page.

For more information about filial therapy or to schedule an initial appointment, please contact Mychelle Moritz, ATR-BC, LPC 971-344-7527 or mychelle@nurturepdx.com

ICAN: Cesarean Prevention Birth Webinar

A Facebook friend posted about ICAN's (International Cesarean Awareness Network) Webinar. If you are preparing for birth, this looks like a great supplement to birthing classes or a great addition to your exisiting wisdom.

http://ican-online.org/none/ican-birth-class-cesarean-prevention

ICAN works to prevent unnecessary cesareans through education, VBAC support, and cesarean recovery.

Join us on Facebook!

Nurture on Facebook

Early Pregnancy Workshop - October 17 & 18

The Early Pregnancy Workshop is for any woman thinking about starting a family, any couple that thinks they might want to start a family, and anyone who already has children and wants more education and information. Organic to what each person wants to learn and with a natural aparenting focus, we will also cover the following topics:

• The difference between OB/GYN, Certified Nurse Midwives, Naturopathic Midwives, Direct Entry Midwives
  
• Hospital Birth Centers, Free-standing Birth Centers and Homebirth options
  
• What type of prenatal class best addresses your needs and lifestyle
  
• What are pregnancy, labor and postpartum doulas
  
• Healthcare support while pregnant and postpartum (Acupuncture, Reiki, Chiropractic, Massage)
  
• Nutrition and exercise
  
• Baby and new mom essentials
  
• Breastfeeding resources and accessories
  
• Sleeping options for baby
  
• Diapering options and cloth diaper demo
  
• Baby sling demos
  
• Guest presenters who specialize in pregnancy and newborn care
  
• Grab bags full of community resources, handouts. coupons, tea, raffles and much more will also be provided.

When: October 17 & 18
Where: Nurture, a center for growing families. 1614 NE Alberta St.
Extras: Each couples walks away with a goodie bag full of free samples, CDs, coupons and community resources, an opportunity to meet birth professionals in the community and potential friends. Ohh yeah, and don’t forget about the organic, vegeterian meal included during both nights.
Cost Options:  The complete workshop is offered on a sliding scale between $75 - $90 per couple, based on what you can afford. Couples can choose to attend one day for $40 - $50.
Day 1: Choosing a Care Provider, Birth Place, Prenatal Classes and Services
Day 2: Doulas, Breastfeeding & Eco-friendly baby care

Green Bean Books

Nurture warmly welcomes our new neighbors, Green Bean Books, a beautiful children's bookstore right next to Nurture. On their shelves I recognized many favorites and new favorites waiting to be discovered. Green Bean Books officially opened July 11th and will be having a grand opening celebration on July 30th during Last Thursday. Stop by and enjoy the celebration.

Compassionate Communication Practice Group Update

Join us for a monthly, self-led group to practice compassionate communication, with an emphasis on parenting/family.

The compassionate communication practiced in this group is a communication approach using techniques and ideas inspired by Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall Rosenberg. It is a way to communicate peacefully while addressing the needs of everyone involved and models gentle, empathetic, and assertive communication to our children.

This group is self-led, but coordinated and hosted by Nurture (http://www.nurturepdx.com/)

We focus on families who want to support each other with compassion and in giving our children tools in unconditional love and freedom. We are a self-guided group, providing support for each other using discussion, sharing, practice, role play, and the book Respectful Parents, Respectful Kids by Sura Hart and Victoria Kindle Hodson as a guide. We also have an on-line group for additional support throughout the month. Children are welcome to the group. All NVC levels of experience welcome. $2 suggested donation.

We meet on the 4th Monday of each month from 2-3:30pm

at Nurture 1614 NE Alberta St. , Portland , OR 97211

Contact Mychelle at mychelle@nurturepdx.com

For more information and other local resources on Compassionate Communication visit the Oregon Network of Compassionate Communication and Wise Heart. There is also a wonderful NVC parenting series offered in NE Portland called Parenting from the Heart, more info here: http://insideoutschoolhouse.wordpress.com/ and the Portland Unconditional Parenting yahoo group for those who want to connect with others who are parenting respectfully and compassionately: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UP-Portland/

Northwest Mothers Milk Bank KBOO Interview

(view this announcement as a web page)

TheNWMMB is thrilled to spread the word about their efforts to build the Northwest Mothers Milk Bank with an interview on Monday July 13th on KBOO Community Radio.

Monday, July 13th at 11:30 am PST, Anna Keith Soderberg will interview Dixie Whetsell, MS, IBCLC, board member of the Northwest Mothers Milk Bank. Listen in to KBOO in Portland at 90.7 fm, in Corvallis at 100.7 fm or in Hood River at 91.9 fm to hear about the importance of breastmilk, our efforts and how you can help. No calls will be taken due to time constraints, but if you have a question or comment please email beforehand to kboofamilybusiness@gmail.com

If you're out of the listening area, listen to the broadcast online.

Learn more about us on our website http://www.nwmmb.org/

Join the Northwest Mothers Milk Bank list.

From an e-mail sent by: Northwest Mothers Milk Bank, 3439 NE Sandy Blvd. #130, Portland, Oregon 97232.

Smart Foods, Healthy Kids

If you've been searching for a free resource that has everything you ever wanted to know about feeding your children nutritious, healthy meals, look no further. Smart Foods, Healthy Kids is an online resource that offers classes, article, recipes, allergy information, blogs and fun tips to get your little one eating right.

Smart Foods, Healthy Kids encourages all eaters to follow these basic nutrition guidelines:

• Listen to your body and intuition. Every body is different, so ONE SINGLE “perfect” diet for every person on the planet is unlikely.


• You don’t have to change everything at once. If you eat two vegetables today, and yesterday you only ate one, you’ve DOUBLED your veggie intake!


• When in doubt, pretend you’re a caveman. If you’re wondering whether something is healthy, imagine if a cave dweller would have stumbled upon it. If it comes in a plastic package with a lot of big, un-pronounceable words on the label, your genetics probably aren’t suited to whatever is in that bag.

With these ideas in mind, Smart Foods, Healthy Kids offers lots and lots educational opportunities that are fun and empowering for adults and kids. Check them out and let us know what great food tips you discovered.

BirthJourneys Doula Collective is hosting a meet the doulas night at Milagros on

Tuesday, July 21st from 6:30pm - 8:00pm.

They will provide information about doulas and answer questions such as:

• Why do you need doula support?
• How does a doula support a woman and her partner during childbirth?
• What does the research say about how doula support helps to decrease the use of pain medication and the risk of cesarean section?
• How do you find the right doula for you?
• How much do doulas' services cost (and how to afford one on a limited budget)?
• How are doulas different from doctors and midwives?

Attendees will have the opportunity to speak with our doulas one-on-one to learn more about the difference a doula makes. Refreshments will be served and we are having a raffle to win a basket full of labor goodies!

Milagros Boutique 5433 NE 30th Avenue, Portland, OR 97211 http://www.milagrosboutique.com/

Parent Workshops

Parents are People Too: Reclaiming Our Personal Expression as Parents
August 22, 2-4pm $30
As a parent, it is so easy to get caught up in the flow of daily obligations, leaving little time or energy for expressing who we are and what captures our imagination. Yet this creative exploration is essential to feeling fulfilled in our lives, which in turn translates into feeling more relaxed and happy in our role as parents.

Also, our fall dates for this workshop:
Moving Beyond a Difficult Birth: Embracing Healing and Connecting with Your Baby
Two-part workshop: September 12 & 19, 2-4pm $45
Part One: Healing through Birth Story and Art
Part Two: Connecting Deeply with Your Baby
The experience of birth doesn’t always happen the way we imagine. Intense emotions from a challenging pregnancy or birth can make it feel difficult to be fully present with your baby. These emotions need and deserve to be expressed and acknowledged, before we can allow ourselves to release them and begin true emotional healing. Then we can relax more deeply into a heartfelt, intuitive connection with our children.

For more information, visit www.nurturepdx.com/workshops.html
To register, contact Sarah at 503.285.4906 or welcomewithlove@gmail.com,

About the presenters
Sarah Nuxoll: After several years of feeling frustrated as a parent, I began working toward deeper body-mind clarity and emotional and spiritual healing. Now I feel excited about engaging life, moving with my creativity, and allowing myself to feel happy as a parent. In these workshops, I share insights from my experience as a mother of two, as a spiritual practitioner, and as an apprentice homebirth midwife. I look forward to meeting you!

Mychelle Moritz: Having experienced the beautiful yet challenging transition to parenthood, I have developed a passion for helping women and their growing families. I am an artist, an art therapist, and a licensed professional counselor, as well as the co-founder of Nurture. My two active young children keep me very busy and I enjoy watching their creative antics.

Children's Book: The Blueberry Pie Elf

The Blueberry Pie Elf, written by Jane Thayer and illustrated by Seymour Fleishman, is another oldie but goodie. We have renewed our checkout of this book so many times, I think the library just might give it to us. It has certainly led to an increase in our pie baking activities in this house.


Sweet little Elmer, the elf, desperately tries to find a way to let the family, who unknowingly hosts him, know that he wants more rich, melting, juicy, delicious, fruity blueberry pie. This is not an easy task for an elf that no one can see, hear, or feel. No other pie will do, and I have to agree with Elmer on that; I also think blueberry pie is the sweetest, fruitiest, most delicious of the fruit pies.


After you read this delightful book, you can make a blueberry pie with your little elves. Here is my favorite blueberry pie filling recipe:

3 1/2-4 c blueberries (fresh!)
3/4 c agave syrup
~1/2 TB lemon juice
5 TB corn starch


Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Pour into pie crust. Create lattice top for pie by weaving long thin slices of pie crust on top. Place pie on a pizza pan in case of bubbling over. Bake at 350' until crust is lightly browned. I always cover the edges until the pie filling has cooked a bit (about 30 minutes) and then remove the cover and let the crust brown.

Homebirth and Birth Center Family Potluck Picnic

Come meet other homebirth and birth center families and learn how you can be involved in preserving out-of-hospital birth in Oregon. All homebirth and birth center families and supporters are warmly invited to this potluck in the park.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

2:00pm - 5:00pm

Laurelhurst Park, Picnic site C

Near SE 37th and Oak

View Map

For more information call Lucina Armstong at (503) 886-9171 or e-mail Silke Akerson at silkeakerson@yahoo.com

If you can’t make the picnic but want to be involved in an on-going homebirth families group please contact Lucina or Silke (see above)

What is a Doula?

What is a doula? 

The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.

Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.

A Birth Doula

• Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life

• Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor

• Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth

• Stays with the woman throughout the labor

• Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get        the information she needs to make informed decision

• Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers

• Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman's memory of the birth experience

• Allows the woman's partner to participate at his/her comfort level

Research evidence shows that the quality services of a postpartum doula can ease the transition that comes with the addition of a baby to a family, improve parental satisfaction and reduce the risk of mood disorders.

*This information taken from the DONA website.

Help Save Handmade Goods

HELP CUT THE RED TAPE THAT IS ABOUT TO CUT TIE THE HANDS OF CRAFTERS. VISIT MILAGROS BOUTIQUE'S BLOG FOR MORE DETAILS.

Mama Mantras

Karen, mother of twin boys, sent us this gentle and most effective mantra. Karen writes:

I hope this is one is not too obvious. It is the most helpful way for me to relax and find space to think when the boys are making a ruckus. Actually, I started using this mantra long before I had children when I was working at in a very stressful job with a not-so-helpful boss. My mama mantra is:

'breathe'

Thank you, Karen, for sharing this mantra. It is a timely reminder for me.

Breathe

Summer Reiki Classes with Molly Fitzpatrick

Molly is offering Reiki classes this summer:

Happy Summer! I am offering Reiki classes again.

You only need to attend one class if you are interested in learning.

The dates are:
Monday, July 6th from 3pm to 8pm
Tuesday, July 7th from 12pm to 5pm
Sunday, July 21st from 9am to 2pm
Shamballa Reiki Class at Nurture

1614 NE Alberta St. Portland, Oregon

Create a Sacred Space. Each participant is invited to bring an item to add at the opening circle (to be returned to owner at the end of class). This could be anything- pictures, crystals, artwork, jewelry, something from nature, etc. This is done in combination with setting an intention for the class.

Guided Meditations. Group meditation opens each individual up to higher levels of consciousness and creates a synergistic atmosphere of learning.

Questions and Answers . Each participant will receive a copy of the Shamballa Reiki handbook prior to the attunements. This is an opportunity to engage in a dynamic conversation that covers some of the material in the handbook, as well as other questions, concerns, wonderments, insights, etc.

Attunement. The Reiki and Shamballa attunements will be given to each participant. The attunement opens energy channels, and places healing symbols in one’s energy field. After receiving Shamballa Reiki attunements, each participant will have the capability to channel and transmit healing energy, through laying on of hands as well as long-distance healing.

Practice. Each person will get a chance to practice giving and receiving Shamballa Reiki.

Closing Circle. Each person can share his or her thoughts at this time.

Cost of class is $50, plus $10 for each handbook.
Members of PDXTimebank can pay partially with Timedollars.

Molly has been practicing Reiki since 2002 and received her Master/Teacher attunements in Shamballa and Reiki in 2004. She teaches classes, as well as offers individual treatments incorporating Shamballa Reiki with other holistic modalities for mind-body-spirit healing.

To Register For a Class:
Please contact Molly Fitzpatrick, L.Ac. at
http://us.mc526.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=molly@nurturepdx.com or 503-341-1372

Upcoming Workshop: So This is What it's Like to Be a Parent?

So This is What it’s Like to Be a Parent?

Integrating Emotional Wellness with the Realities of Day-to-Day Parenting

July 11, 2pm-5pm $35 (sliding scale)

The reality of parenting a child can be frustrating, chaotic, and overwhelming. We may be surprised by the intensity of feelings such as rage, grief, or resentment. Without learning to truly taking care of ourselves, it is difficult to move beyond these feelings toward emotional wellness as parents.

In this workshop, we will explore:·

• Artistic and body-mind tools for identifying and safely expressing difficult emotions
• Recognizing emotions as signals for change in our lives
• Examining ways we subconsciously limit our options for feeling better
• Finding what really works for our family

This workshop will be held at Nurture, Center for Growing Families, 1614 NE Alberta St, Portland, OR 97211

For more information or to register, contact Sarah at 503.285.4906 or welcomewithlove@gmail.com; or Mychelle at 971.344.7527 or Mychelle@nurturepdx.com.

About the presenters
Sarah Nuxoll: After several years of feeling frustrated as a parent, I began working toward deeper body-mind clarity and emotional and spiritual healing. Now I feel excited about helping myself and others to engage life, move with our creativity, and allow ourselves to feel happy as parents. In these workshops, I share insights from my experience as a mother of two, spiritual practitioner, and former apprentice homebirth midwife. I look forward to meeting you! (http://www.welcomewithlovefamilycare.com/)

Mychelle Moritz: Having experienced the beautiful yet challenging transition to parenthood, I have developed a passion for helping women and their growing families. I am an artist, an art therapist, and a licensed professional counselor, as well as the co-founder of Nurture. My two active young children keep me very busy and I enjoy watching their creative antics. (http://www.nurturepdx.com/)