We all want the best for our kids, right? We do what we can to provide stimulating environments, secure attachment, positive experiences, and good nutrition (among other things). Recently I have been learning more about the importance of a diverse and flourishing gut microbiome in setting the stage for mental and physical health. The gut micro biome is "... is made up of the trillions of microorganisms and their genetic material that live in your intestinal tract. These

Over my decade of supporting new babies and their families, I have heard so many new mothers say, “I wish someone had told me…. …what postpartum depression or anxiety actually feels like …what a good breastfeeding latch looks and feels like …how much I need to focus on sleep, and get it when I can …how to put a support system in place for meals, housework, moral support …how to care for a newborn …how to care for my postpartum body …how to balance my intuition with others’ ad

Last year at this time, I listened to a wonderful talk by Jackie Dobrinska at Jubilee! Community Church in Asheville. Her message was one that I needed to hear: In this season, life is supposed to be hard. Winter has been dark and cold; we’re running out of resources. But we are also incubating, nurturing seeds that will grow in Spring. Just when it seems unbearable, February arrives, and we get hints that light is returning, and temperatures will rise. Hope swells within us

It is October in Northern Spain. The nights are rapidly becoming longer, cutting into the evenings, and threatening to continue until 9am when we take our children to school. This dramatic darkening is encouraging me to slow down. I have spent much of my adult life focused on to-do lists, being productive, and contributing to society in some way. I have to remind myself that I am creating a different pace of life for myself this year. Here, shops close from 2-5pm every da

I recently saw the movie “Tully” and I can’t stop thinking about it. After mulling it over, I am left unsure if Tully actually existed or if she was a figment of Marlo’s (the postpartum mom played by Charlize Theron) psychosis, awakening within her the young woman she used to be. This is the same feeling I had after watching “A Beautiful Mind.” I replayed each moment, trying to separate the actual reality from reality perceived by the main character. The preview seemed like

This recipe evolved from my first experience of postpartum. It has served me well in nurturing all the mamas I have worked with since. For a more filling variation, try serving it over quinoa or rice. My friend (and amazing birth doula) Rachel calls this dish, "a hug in a bowl." It is comfort food at its best: warm, mushy, creamy, salty, slightly sweet, and simple. May you feel the hugs in each spoonful! COCONUT MILK STEW 3-4 small or medi

Your baby is inching closer to 6 months old and you are wondering how this introduction of food thing is supposed to go. Mainstream advice says to give them iron-fortified rice cereal when they reach 6 months old, and advance from there, spooning jarred baby food into their cute, delighted mouth. However, some babies aren’t into the spoon…meaning not interested in using it as a utensil to get food to their mouths. They want to feel the food with their hands, maybe smear it

Working with new parents, I often see how having a baby challenges their abilities to meet their own needs. Our culture conditions us to do whatever it takes to ensure the survival and happiness of our offspring, even at the expense of our own health and wellbeing. The reality is that if our own needs are met, we are better able to meet the needs of those dependent on us. There is a whole industry built on guiding us to do what our culture has told us not to do. How many

We are a society that turns to experts to tell us how to do everything from making scones to finding our true calling. When it comes to the adventure of parenthood, the scene is no different. As a mama, I have found myself stressed out because things aren’t going the way they are “supposed” to go. Many of the families I work with ask questions about the gazillion topics covered by professionals. Trying to live up to an ideal can provoke a sense of pressure, failure, and over

These cookies are big on nutrition, small on sugar, and oh-so-soul-satisfying. Partners and big kids love them too!