Births are like snowflakes. Each one is uniquely beautiful. They show us a courage and strength we never knew we had and a love we never could have imagined. The excitement and anticipation of an upcoming birth is palpable. There is an anxious energy around not knowing exactly what to expect. Will it be long or short, comfortable or difficult, exactly as planned or take its own direction? Birth is one of the few parts of life that we typically can’t and shouldn’t control. When our babies are born, we wear our stories like a badge of honor. Each of us has our own special initiation into motherhood.
This week, you’ll read stories that encompass many kinds of birth. From...
When I entered the world of motherhood in April 2012, I felt like friends and family came out of the woodwork and I remember feeling so taken care of. Friends gave selflessly and family consistently cleaned my house (thank you Mom!!) when I couldn't. As more of my friends became moms, I realized just how rare my experience was, so I wanted to share some new and old ideas that I learned in how we can help care for those new moms out there, who may not have their support system nearby.
1. TakeThemAMeal.com. The biggest help we received was the fact that we didn't have to cook for 6 weeks after we had Judah because our friends used this fabulous...
Growing up, my family always had at least one dog. So when I bought my first home in 2009, it didn’t take much convincing when my then boyfriend (now husband) told me that his chocolate lab needed a friend. All I knew was that I didn’t want a puppy, so I started scouring petfinder.com. I came across a picture of D3, a 1.5 year old Siberian Husky/German Shepherd mix at a shelter about 30 minutes from my house. A few emails later I learned that he was a sweet dog, loved to be outside, and was very smart. He had figured out how to sneak under the gate that kept him in his kennel. They couldn’t figure out how...
Infertility :: Tell Your Story
First of all, I just want to say thank you to the many of you who have responded to the posts this week. I have received emails, texts, Facebook messages, etc., and the feedback and response has been overwhelming. It is so great to know that there is a huge community of support out there. Here here for more of my story, how to cope with infertility or learn how to be a supportive friend.
I know first hand what so many of you are going through. Looking back at my journey, I realize that my infertility story was extremely, mercifully short compared to what many of you are currently experiencing. But the ache and hurt...
For the many of you who are reading this blog series (here is Part 1 and Part 2) who have never struggled with fertility, chances are that you know someone who is. Infertility affects between 10% and 15% of couples trying to conceive. You likely have a friend or a relative who is currently dealing with this issue. Knowing the right things to do or say can be tricky because you don't want to walk on eggshells, but you don't want to be hurtful either.
Based on my experiences, here are a few suggestions for what to say and what not to say.
Things you should try to avoid saying or doing:
Don't tell her to "just relax". This was one...
Around Baton Rouge
Oni225 :: Baton Rouge’s New Japanese Street Food Pop-Up is Worth...
Oni225 :: Baton Rouge's New Japanese Street Food Pop-Up is Worth Visiting
Oni225 came to fruition in February at the Asian Night Market when two...
