Discover Your Power Birth & Baby

04/30/2026

So many wishes to make! :)

04/29/2026

Came across a quote that resonated today: “The soul does not want to be advised or fixed or saved. It simply wants to be witnessed—seen, heard, and companioned exactly as it is” (Parker J. Palmer)

04/21/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B5X2JH51h/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Join the PMAD full day training on May 7th in Livingston, NJ! If you are a perinatal mental health provider, this is going to be a very informative full day training also part of Mind the Gap NJ. Email Jennifer to register!

04/05/2026

Planned obsolescence—does it chip away at our mental resilience?

When I was young, possessions were repaired. I remember my mom stitching socks that had worn through, building up layers of crisscrossed thread with the sock stretched over a lightbulb, and my dad taking apart the clock at the kitchen table; the smell of hot solder. I don’t seek to romanticize it. I doubt that was how my parents wanted to spend their time, getting by. I do wonder, though, whether there was something valuable in witnessing that process of things falling apart brought back to “life” with effort and patience.

So, I fix things together with my youngest and I let her do the fixing. This morning she carefully taped up an old puzzle box, which was coming apart in the corners. It wasn’t the best taping job, but she was pretty proud. “Look, I fixed it!” she beamed. “Yes, you did, you can fix things!” Will this realization stay with her? Who knows. Perhaps, if we do it often enough, it will.

04/02/2026

How free you are to be within yourself is one of the measures of your power...the quality of your relationships is one of the measures of your success

03/29/2026

This one is for expecting dads!

Many dads join my classes seeing themselves as helpers. Quickly, they come to realize that they are capable, essential partners.

Curious to get to know this capable you?

Take a moment and think about the kind of father you want to be. How would you want to guide this child? How would you sound, be, act, and feel as that father?

And then, as this father, speak to your baby, even if it’s in your head.

Tell them what you hope for them. Tell them what you love about their mom. Tell them what kind of life you want to share with them.

You can do this as often as you’d like. You may discover something new each time you explore it!

03/22/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/18SoH4Bp9t/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Children’s tantrums are tough for everyone, but science shows that the words we reach for in those heated moments often make things harder. When a child is deep in a meltdown, their brain cannot process language clearly. Talking too much can feel like noise, making it even harder for them to calm down and for you to connect.

Research suggests that a simple pause—giving them space while you stay physically close and breathe calmly—can help the tantrum pass much faster. For the first 90 seconds or so, a child’s brain is flooded with raw emotion. Any extra conversation or explaining during that time can actually stretch the meltdown much longer. Instead, your silent presence shows safety and gives your child a secure place to ride out the storm.

If you remember one thing, let it be this: quiet reassurance is not the same as ignoring. Stay nearby, breathe slowly, and let your calm help their feelings settle. Over time, this gentle approach helps your child learn how to handle big emotions—and gives you both a way forward, even on the toughest days."

03/18/2026

What does a game of duck-duck-goose teach your child?

A brief examination of the classic children’s game.

03/13/2026

“The way you live your life is the way you birth”? Talk about disempowering advice!

Here’s something that may serve you better. Birthing is not a test of how you’ve lived your life. Instead, it can absolutely be a beginning of discovering just what you are capable of being and doing—of discovering the power you may not know you have.

I have seen women come into their pregnancy with anxiety, feeling like they lacked control, experiencing self doubt…you name it. Yet, when they prepare for it, they give birth with calm, confidence, and a deep trust in their bodies, and it changes them. It can change your life, if you allow it! Happy exploring 🩷

03/13/2026

This looks interesting. Relevant to anyone? https://www.facebook.com/share/17BRBXcvew/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Free Parent Conference