As a parent myself, I have a deep understanding of the challenges that face families as they add children.  The amount of new tasks and transitions can be overwhelming.  I want to make sure every family member is getting the nutrition, rest, education, exercise, and soul-sustaining activity he or she needs to grow, adjust, and make it through the crucial postpartum period successfully.

Unlike other care providers, family and friends, I do not offer opinions, advice or judgment.  The word “should” is not in my vocabulary.  Instead, I help clients to find their own parenting comfort zone.  When asked, I will provide evidence-based information on questions relating to the newborn, parenting, and the postpartum period.  By offering research evidence I give clients the confidence to weigh the benefits of various options and parent in the way that works best for them.  Most problems new parents face are normal and can be resolved with validation and encouragement to work together to find alternatives that meet the needs of each family member.

I recognize that every family is unique and that I will only be in clients’ homes for a short time.  I am respectful of clients’ values and cultural traditions.  Ultimately, it is the parents who must live with the consequences of their choices and who are thus in the best position to make decisions.  I wear many hats, but my basic role is to support the family’s independence – to be a warm, near, calm presence but not to replace the essential wholeness of the family.