Where I'm going...

You may not realize it because the retail business tends to just skip over it and go right to Christmas, but Thanksgiving is only a couple of days away. Although it may be short lived, it's the time of year to think about what we are grateful for. For me it's family, the matriarchs of the family to be exact. It's not that I'm not thankful for my hubby, but let's think about the ladies.

The other day, my 15 month old daughter was playing with a hat. She was putting it on her head, spinning around, laughing, pulling it over her eyes. Then she started to head straight for the edge of the table. I scooped her up right before she ran head first into it. I lifted the hat so she could see, told her to watch where she was going, kissed her and put her down facing in an obstacle free direction. I laughed to myself and thought, "the things we have to teach our children." Then I stopped and thought about it. That's an important skill, to watch where you're going. I assume my mom taught me that. I would assume for most of us, our mothers taught us that. Have you ever thanked your mom for teaching you to watch where you're going?  I know I hadn't.

So, much goes into having kids. First you have to grow the kid. (Well, technically there is a step before this.)  After nine months of all the "fun" pregnancy has to offer, you have to get the kid out. We have to feed our children, and bathe our children. Not only do we have to teach them to walk, but now I find out it's our job to teach them to watch where they're going, jeez! 

(Maybe I should have saved this for Mother's Day, lol) After writing my post yesterday, I can't even begin to list all the things my mother has taught me. I am thankful for my mother, my grandmothers, my sister, my aunts... I am thankful for all the moms out there. It doesn't matter what age your children are. You are ready, waiting to scoop them up, uncover their eyes, and head them away from the pointy corners of life. Thank you for the little things. Because of you I'm watching...

where I'm going...

My mother taught me...

I was raised in a house where pregnancy and birth were a normal talked about thing. My mother is a nurse, childbirth educator and doula. I grew up hearing about women laboring naturally and breastfeeding. So, before I even got pregnant the first time around, I knew about the whole process. I understood why natural labor and breastfeeding are the best thing for my body and baby. I actually looked forward to labor, to the right of passage, to the life changing experience that only women who have labored naturally can understand.

It has been hard for me, watching dramatic births on tv, and hearing horror stories about labor. When I know why things are going that way. I get so frustrasted when I talk to women who are clearly uneducated about birth. I hate hearing, "well my child is happy and healthy so it doesn't matter that I had a medical birth and formula fed" when I know the research that says otherwise. I can't blame them though, this is the world that we have grown up in, this is the norm. It's not something that is talked about now, it is something that is feared. Fear can be a powerful influence.

I am pregnant again and more and more I think about my first daughter. How will she see labor and birth? What will the norm be when she is of childbearing age? Will she see birth as the challenging, empowering, amazing experience that I learned it would be? Or will she be scared? Will she just do what her doctor says, when that may not be what the research shows to be best? I hope and pray that I can raise her, and any other daughters I may have, the way my mom taught me. I want her to not be scared, but to be empowered that women can do this. What will she tell people when she looks back on her life and says,

My mother taught me...

Are you ready?

I decided to start this blog so I would have a place to share my thoughts. I was just recently blogging on a website where you could "write about your experience with pregnancy or to simply offer words of encouragement and support to other moms."  They wanted it to be a place "for women to connect with other women in a supportive and positive way." Only problem is I didn't find it encouraging, supportive or positive. The majority of the posts were not evidence based and I found myself getting frustrated reading them. I guess the straw that broke the camels back was that all the comments and blog posts were reviewed and had to be approved by the site administrator. I don't like to be censored.

I want more than pleasant conversation and tip-toeing around hot topics. I want to dive into those topics, I want to talk about the research, about society's expectations, I want to say what I think needs to be said. I suppose I should say upfront that I don't mean to offend or upset anyone, but I may end up doing so. I have been offended and upset for too long.

Are you ready?