Taking my own advice

I am always telling my other mama friends to take care of their mama selves. Seriously. I am constantly nagging people about it some might say. (I prefer to say that I gently nudge, but that's just me.) It is important, though. We know it is. It's like on an airplane. You have to put on your oxygen mask first and then tend to the children. Motherhood is like that. We have to take care of ourselves so that we can take care of our children. Yeah, well, I learned that lesson now. I have been ignoring some nagging pain in my hips and pelvis for quite some time. Ahem, over 2 years to be exact. Yes, here and there I've sought treatment only to give it up for various reasons mostly related to the cost of said treatments. If you ignore a health problem, it tends to get worse. It got worse last week, Thursday afternoon to be exact. I simply sat down to eat lunch with my four wild and wonderful children when "Sproing!" my back started hurting. Ok, so it didn't make a sound, but I do believe sproing is the sound it would have made. I stood up only to realize that I could not stand up. Now, a normal person who takes her own advice, would think this would be a good reason to seek treatment for the nagging hip/pelvis/now back pain. I didn't. Thinking it would go away, I waited. Finally, after needing my loving man's help to get out of bed and across the hall to the toilet, I gave in and called for help. I'm on the mend now, feeling a lot better but still not 100%. I'd say I feel 25% (over the 10% I was feeling). I would like to say I have learned my lesson. I hope I have. Now I'm thinking about what else I've let go along the way, what other activities I've given up so that I can do x, y, or z for my wild and wonderful children. I'm making a list. I need to be well emotionally, mentally, and physically in order to be the mother my children need me to be. I'm working on that. What is on your list? How do you keep yourself feeling nurtured?

VBAC Birth Art Classes

Are you planning a vbac (vaginal birth after cesearean)? Do you find yourself still struggling with the emotional toll of the cesearean birth? Do you live in southeast Michigan? I am planning a six week series of classes designed to help you process your feelings from your cesearean birth and prepare for your next birth experience. In each class, we will use art projects, discussion, and journaling to get in touch with your inner birth warrior. The six classes are titled Healing Birth Trauma, Finding Your Power, Nurturing Yourself and Your Family, Opening, The Logistics of Birth, and Birth as a Rite of Passage. Together, we will equip you with a mental and emotional toolbox to help you prepare for your next journey to parenthood. The classes are $200 per six week session with a $50 materials fee. They will be held at 300 North Huron Street in Ypsilanti on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9:30 beginning on July 13. Contact Jo Brown at info@a2birthsong.com for more information.