Eco Playhouses ! (my new obsession)

 That would be so fun for Tao to have a playhouse! First we must have a yard. :) Maybe for now we will settle for a tent. That might be a fun indoor option. Here are some of my favorite finds! How fun would it be to design playhouses!!!!

Some great playhouses on this site!

A new phase in Motherhood

It interests me to think of the mother I want to become. When Tao was a baby I attended to his every need. That's the mother I wanted to be. But now that he is blossoming into a toddler there is so much more to it.


How do I want to handle certain situations? I remind myself often: do I not want him to do a certain thing because it is not convenient for me or because it is dangerous? Sometimes at the park I find myself wanting him to stay in a certain area. When I try to turn him back to that area he lets his whole body go limp. If I take a step back I realize : Why should he stay in this area? I then understand I was trying to keep him there for my own laziness. Why not let him explore!!! As long as it is safe of course.

I make mistakes everyday and I take it hard when those mistakes come to my mothering. Although there is much to learn and better my parenting skills from those mistakes.

I never want to hold him back for my convenience! This can be hard on days were I am tired but I aim to let Tao explore and experience the world around him. Let him get dirty with nature and art! Let him experiment with his voice and make loud sounds.

I am sometimes nervous of what is ahead. I did hear an interesting concept that I love: When parents loose it it's because they are trying to control their children's behavior.

I have no interest in controlling Tao. I am however interesting in guiding him. 

growing

Tao is growing so fast! He is now a walker :) When he started to crawl that opened up a whole new world for him. Now that he is walking I see the excitement on his face. The world is once again new. We go to the park and he walks around looking at everything, observing every detail. How wonderful to grow and experience new things! Sometimes I  take a step back and try to see things through his eyes. It must be so fresh and perplexing. Wow, I want to stay in that mode! 

Birth Plan

Found a copy of the birth plan I made in case I ended up at the hospital. It is fun to go back and read it :)

Our Birth Plan

Mother: Kate Moffat

Father: Fred Holt

Doctor: Dr. Teel

Environment: Dim lighting, music, and aromatherapy.

Mobility:Unlimited freedom to move.

Pelvic Exams: As few as possible.

Medication: Do not offer; I will ask if it is desired.

Cord: Do not clamp/cut umbilical cord until it stops pulsating.

Placenta: Please save the placenta for me to take home :)

Immediately After Delivery: Place baby on my chest.

Postpartum: I would like the baby to "room in." 

Vernix: Massage into skin instead of removing.

Breastfeeding: 1. Breastfeed as soon as possible after birth.

                             2. Do not give baby any formula/water/pacifier.

Vaccinations: No vaccinations are to be offered or given.

Visitors with unlimited access after birth: Michael, Diane, and Molly Moffat, Gaby Hernandez, and Trisha Oliver. 

Thank you so much for being such an important part of this birth! I appreciate all your help and support,

Kate Moffat

Knowing the history of birth

All childbirth educators should be well connected and informed on the history of birth. If we as childbirth educators are connected to the past we can better serve all childbearing women. When working with a woman who has previously given birth it is important to know her birth story. It is so valuable to have a connection with the women of the past. From those who birthed in ancient times; to those who have birthed recently.

The history of birth is vitally important for a childbirth educator to know. In any profession it is important to know its history. As a childbirth educator I want to help women connect with their roots. Meaning the roots of a fertile being. We need to dig our fingers into the rich soil of birth in ancient times. It is not possible to help birthing women dig their fingers deep into the soil unless as a childbirth educator I know the soil. Birth is one of the most spiritual experiences of a women’s life. This spiritual event can be enhanced, by connecting and knowing, how ancient women birthed. If more women knew the history of birth there would be a lot less fear. Having less fear leads to more successful births.

It is also valuable to know the not so pleasant history of birth. Women, midwives, dulas and doctors that came before us left us with amazing information. Some of the information is positive, and some negative. All of it is to learn from. We should never forget the past because there is much to learn from it. Birth in American hospitals can be grim. However it used to be much grimmer. As a woman I have cried watching the movie “The Business of Being Born.” It can change ones mind about a medicated birth when the history of hospital births is studied. It is valuable to know how our mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers birthed. I want to open up and feel what the women of the past felt.

If a women has already given birth it is important to know her birth history. As a childbirth educator I will better be able to serve a women once I know her birth story. I need to be able to identify with all my students. To do this I must get in touch with other women’s circumstances. Try to no just “hear” their story but “feel” their story. Get in touch with their emotions and innate needs.

Along with knowing a women’s birth story I want to know their views on birth. How was her mother’s birth? Her sisters? What does she believe about birth? By learning how a student views birth I can better open her eyes to the past history of childbirth. The past shapes our future. Many women can gain great comfort from learning about the past history of birth.

To even better serve women it is good to know their partners history of birth. What events have shaped their views? How did their mothers birth? Have they been present at any births? To know their history helps when teaching them as well. It is vital that the partner learns the history of birth so they can support the childbearing partners decisions. If a woman desires a homebirth the partner needs to learn why. To realize what made their partner come to the decision of a homebirth.

All women can reflect back on the past for inspiration. My goal as a childbirth educator is to know the history of birth like the back of my hand. This way I have the knowledge to serve my students. To help women connect and feel what women in ancient times felt. Open up to ones primitive self. Let women know it is okay and not embarrassing to be primitive in birth. Rather it is beautiful and exotic.

Mothering.com

Wanted to share one of my go to websites! www.mothering.com . Mothering Magazine is amazing! I consume it every month! Consider ordering it :)

blogger

Here I am blogging for the first time! I am excited :) My passion is to educate women on natural childbirth! Lets change the way we view birth and as women trust our bodies! Blogging is a new adventure for me, thank you for reading. I look forward to a whole bunch of interesting posts.