I’ve heard Facebook described as a curated version of your life – sometimes building a blindingly perfect version for all to see. Recently, a friend posted a very real and honest parenting picture on Facebook, and it was such a great example of bravery, acceptance, and support; so with her permission I’d like to share it as a reminder to…
Author: Jen
The rewards of leading a newborn PEPS group
Leading daytime newborn groups has given me the opportunity to meet and be part of many families’ lives over the past 4 years (nearly 100 in fact!). Sitting with moms once a week for 2 hours keeps my own perspective on parenting fresh, and also lets me help other moms. I like to focus on moms (versus dads or couples)…
Who will you meet in your PEPS group?
When you attend your first PEPS meeting, I think it’s natural to come in with a bit of anxiety – not sure what to expect and not sure who you will meet. You try your best to “come as you are” but at the same time, trying to impress…a little. Do you measure up to the other parents? Will they…
Dear Brand New Mom: Remember This
Dear Brand New Mom, There are some things during this newborn phase that you will likely want to quickly forget – but some things you will want to remember forever. But what about those details you didn’t know you’d want to remember? I am a scrapbooker and photo historian by nature: I love taking pictures to remember things. However, it’s…
Dear Brand New Mom: Listen To What They Can’t Say
Dear Brand New Mom, Learning to understand your child’s cues is a skill you will work hard to develop over their lifetime. It starts when they are newborns and continues when they are teenagers. It didn’t dawn on me that this was a lifelong skill until I was faced with two tweens who have their own way of communicating. I don’t…
Dear Brand New Mom: Keep it Simple
Dear Brand New Mom, Do you think that all this baby gear is OVERWHELMING!!? As you prepare for your new arrival, new parents are faced with decisions of “what do we need vs. want” coupled with “what can we afford”? The options seem endless. Then the baby arrives and you put all that stuff to use. Or do you? Do…
Dear Brand New Mom: What I Forgot
Dear Brand New Mom, I recently cared for my 4 month old nephew for an extended time period. Although I’ve had my own children, I was still a little nervous; would I remember what to do? Every baby is so different, would the tricks that worked on my kids work on him? How would the day go? It’s been over…
Dear Brand New Mom: The Worry Factor
It seems that with the arrival of your baby, something triggers inside your new mom brain: WORRY. You might worry about small things, big things, and/or the future…. I think this is something that comes attached to our babies and transfers to us immediately. Think back to something small you worried about when they were born: a small mark on…
Dear Brand New Mom: Treading in the minutiae
Dear Brand New Mom, Along with baby come a lot of new details you never imagined. How do you stay afloat among all of this minutiae when you have so many other things to do? Right now it might seem ungratifying and exhausting. I don’t think most moms get that they will be bedraggled plus have all this STUFF surrounding them….…
Dear Brand New Mom: Meet them where they are
Dear Brand New Mom, As a new parent, you are tasked with molding and shaping the life of your newborn into adulthood. From the very beginning, this might feel like a lot of responsibility. You’ve heard you are their first teacher – this applies to learning about their world as an infant: how to roll over, how to clap hands,…