Show 48 – Families in a busy world

Sunday, November 14, 2010 8 to 9 am Eastern on www.CFRU.ca 93.3 FM in Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Jen Britton (Nurture by Nature: Postpartum Doula Services and Children’s Boutique) joins me as we discuss how to focus on what matters most when life’s busy. When she’s not at the Guelph Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings, you can find Jen at the Two Rivers Neighbourhood group.

What parent doesn’t worry, from time to time, that they should know it all and be able to do it all. If you get caught up in the rat race, feeling pressured and overwhelmed, find out how to re-orient yourself toward your inner guidance system and family relationships.

“But”, you say, “I couldn’t ask for help!” and “there’s just too much to do everyday!”

“When we begin to know ourselves in an open and self-supportive way, we take the first step in the process that encourages our children to know themselves.” Daniel J. Siegel

Breathe. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Balancing needs and managing life is something everyone strives for. Life’s a matter of trying things out to find out what works. You know the feeling when you’re in the flow. When was the last time you were there?

Hire help.

Trade or share child care or tasks with another family to take the load off.

Play.

Invite all family members to join in, get things done, while having fun.

Use your imagination and stay focused on what’s important while letting the rest go.

“When we act out of reverence, instead of fear, our motivation is stronger, our inspiration boundless.” Kim John Payne, M.Ed., Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids.

Show 42 – Adoption

Aired live on Sunday, September 19, 2010 8 to 9 AM Eastern on www.CFRU.ca 93.3 FM in Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Jenny Emerson and Luke Hill talk about both the joys and challenges of adopting children. We discuss adopting, being adopted, open adoptions, and how to initiate the adoption process.  An anonymous mom shares a story about her experiences about being adopted and giving up a child. What supports are needed to help with the transition of welcoming a new person into your family?

Jenny has been involved in the Family and Children’s Services training Pride Program for four years. She talks about adopting her own children: one as a baby and one as a three and a half year old.

Luke is a trainer and Resource Parent for Family and Children’s Services. He has one adopted child and one birth child. His family is currently on the list to adopt another child.

A mother writes: My friends in school would talk about the time when they were born, their weight etc. I always answered I don’t know. Then I had to explain that I was adopted. Some kids would say things like ” Oh. Your Mother didn’t want you so she gave you away “. Those kinds of comments are very hurtful. I thought that thought on my own. I also wondered who I looked like, where I get my height from, my eyes etc. Why didn’t my Mother love me? What did I do wrong? I found these times very difficult.

During the last month of my pregnancy, I stayed at a home for unwed mothers. Even then, things were kept secret. After I gave birth, I had the choice to see my baby or not. I was allowed to hold him and feed him. We had a very special bond. He was the first thing in my life that I was truly related to by blood. He was mine. He was my son. Two days later I left the hospital without him. I felt as if I was abandoning him. That was the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life. I was walking away from my own child. Some people consider that to be a very selfish act. I’m not sure about that. Giving a child what is best for them is an act of love. I realized in time just how much my Mother must have loved me in order to have given me up for another family to raise.

Adoption is not a bad word or a bad thing. It comes from a place of pure unselfish love. Every one involved in this process, whether giving up or bringing in a child, needs support and understanding both during and after the process in order to heal. It doesn’t matter if you are related by blood or not. A family is chosen by our hearts.

Show #10-Family Relationships

Aired Sunday, December 27, 2009 || 8 to 9 am ET

Recently, I interviewed Teresa Pitman. Teresa Pitman is a mother of 4 grown children with 4 grandchildren. Her specialty is in helping parents raise healthy children and create strong family relationships in the early years. She has written 14 books about pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, development, and parenthood. She has been a regular contributor to Today’s Parent Magazine for over 20 years. She frequently appears as key note speaker at various parenting conferences around the world. Teresa is a Certified Child Birth Educator, Doula, and La Leche League Leader for 30 years. In 2007, she won a Woman of Distinction Award in Guelph. In 2008, Teresa won the National Breastfeeding Support and Education Award.

Teresa shares her thoughts about trusting our instincts, reducing anger, and receiving feedback from our kids. Her stories show how expressing our feelings of sadness and frustration help us to solve our problems.

If you’re interested in understanding development and feeling more confident as a parent, here are some upcoming workshops in Guelph.

Parenthood: Giving when the well feels dry
with Susan Dafoe-Abbey (www.Dafoe-abbey.com)
Wednesday, January 27, 2010 7-9 pm
at St. Andrew’s Church in Guelph, Ontario

Power to Parent I
with Jenny Emerson
I highly recommend this program. It will give you tools and confidence you need as a parent. Jenny is wonderful.
8 week evening series beginning
Thursday, January 28, 2010
at St. Andrew’s Church in Guelph, Ontario
Email: glennjenny@sympatico.ca

Show #3 – Child Birth Choices

We have a panel of guests who are joining us both live in the studio and on the phone Sunday, November 8th, 2009 from 8 to 9 am ET.

Monique McCardle is a mom to 6 kids and is a trained doula with Doulas of North America (aka DONA) since 2006. Labour, birth, and breastfeeding have been her passions since expecting her first daughter in 1996. After the birth of her son she was convinced her second calling was to become a doula (her first of course being a wife and mother!). Contact: www.guelphdoula.com and 519.994.0701

Nicole Barrette is a mom to 2 busy boys and is also a trained doula through Childbirth International. Nicole is interested in all things related to water births, doula care, belly casting, and breastfeeding. Contact: www.babysfirstbreath.ca

Casey Berard is a mom to 2 kids, one of whom was a premie baby. She is an acupuncturist and does spiritual body work. She is also trained in prenatal yoga. She has attended 4 births. I’ve asked Casey to share how to have a satisfying hospital birth and breastfeeding after a premie baby.

References:

See your Family Doctor

Contact an Obstetrician or the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Health Unit.

Midwives in Guelph: Family Midwifery Care of Guelph and Guelph Midwives

Guelph author Teresa Pitman and her co-author Joyce Barrett, M.D. share the best evidence about pregancy, prenatal care, birth, and the early days with a new baby. This is an easy-to-read reference book for parents: “Pregnancy and Birth: A guide to making decisions that are right for you and your baby” 2^nd revised edition, 2007 (ISBN-13: 978-1-55263-791-3 and ISBN-10: 1-55263-791-3)