07/29/2020
Wow!! I can’t believe it! Starting and operating my own business hasn’t ever been easy, but it’s always been amazing! It’s been a labor of love, and my business has consistently grown over the years.
And then... COVID-19 came.
I had to abruptly end my support of four different families that I loved dearly. Thankfully, all four families were over three months postpartum. Not that that means suddenly everyone has everything “together”, but at least we felt as though we’d logged enough time that they each had some stable systems in place, and the worst of the sleep deprivation was behind them 🤞
But what did the future hold? Would I still be able to perform my services for new families? It was scary and sad, and my heart ached at the idea of not being to able to help mamas, and babies, and dads, and siblings, and sometimes pets, through what is a challenging enough time on it’s own, never mind with the added stress of a pandemic.
My next client had her baby on April 2nd. Peak pandemic time. We talked before her birth, came up with some “if/then” scenarios, and decided to see how she felt once she had her baby.
We ultimately decided on some safety protocols that made us both feel good, and we went for it.
I’ve worked with a LOT of families over these four years, and every single one holds such a special place in my heart. I learn from them, I teach them, I celebrate their “wins” (and commiserate when everything isn’t sunshine and roses), and I’m always unbelievably honored to be welcomed and trusted into such a sacred space and time in their lives. It is everything to me. I love what I do, and I love all of these families so deeply.
But this, this wasn’t something ANY of us were ready for. The bravery and strength it takes to have a baby in a pandemic is incalculable to me. And then to feel like all of the community you’ve forged, the family and friend visits you’d looked forward to, all the resources and help you *thought* you’d so carefully planned for... all of it felt ripped away. For so many new, or new again, families. And yes! So many awesome people rose to the occasion, and/or pivoted their businesses to be able to SHOW UP, virtually or in person, for these families. (The birth-y biz people are unequivocally flexible!) But it was all still so stressful and heart-wrenching, on all fronts.
And while I worked with so many outstanding families in the past four years, my “Pandemic Family” feels like a pretty important piece to acknowledge on this particular business anniversary. It was a true partnership in trust and love, during such a mind boggling time. I am so grateful for the opportunity they gave me to help navigate them through their Pandemic Postpartum Period. I will forever be in awe of their strength and resilience. And ability to laugh until we cried in the wee hours of the morning 🙂 And while things might’ve looked a little different than we anticipated (see: masked up, with a puppy in my lap every time I tried to fold laundry), I think we totally crushed it!
A GIANT THANK YOU to all of the families that have welcomed me and trusted me in their homes with their families, or allowed me to support them during birth. THANK YOU to the perinatal community for referring people to me. AND THANK YOU to the friends and family that support me every day, even, or especially, when I’m a sleep deprived crazy! You ALL are so amazing.
I can’t thank you all enough for making this single mama’s business dreams come true ❤️❤️❤️
Special shout out to for the best shirt ever! And check the comments to see the present that my laundry buddy gave to me!
📷: kieraslye (her photography skills are insane btw. She’s a professional, but just shot this one off real quick from her phone 😮)
