Table Of Contents

1.Child Care: In the valley 
2.meet the physician
3.sweet baby skin
4.moms helping moms
5.nursing and the working mom
6.XTREME Makeover
7.Sleep Glorious Sleep
8.Ricki Lake’s Birth Documentary
9.Birth of a Mother
10.Mops: A PLace for Moms
11.Treasure each moment of Motherhood
13.Grass Roots

Child Care: In the Valley

Since moving to the Tennessee Valley, I have enjoyed staying home with my two small children. I realize that situations change, however, and that not all parents can or choose to stay home. If I return to the workforce, I will need quality childcare. Many families in the Valley live this reality, and turn to the services available throughout the Huntsville area. And the area obliges, abundantly. Here are many of the child care options available to families in the Greater Tennessee Valley.

  In-home Child Care
 If you prefer that your child stay in your home while you work, you can find several willing caregivers in the area, although they are less plentiful than other sources of care. In-home providers fall under the titles of babysitters, au pairs, mother’s helpers or nannies, each varying in degrees of time in the home, duties performed, qualifications and experiencein childcare.
Alabama requires no license for any of the providers listed above. While any agency claiming to offer in-home  child care placement must have a business  license to operate, credentials specific to screening or training nannies are often not regulated. Any accreditations claimed by placement agenciesare subject only to the  associations to which they belong. One factor to consider with in-home care is the “Nanny Tax.” Any person  providing a service in your home and  receiving more than $1,400 a year is considered your employee, and as such is entitled certain tax allowances. Both you and she are also accountable to National Homeland Security regulations. There are a few local nanny agencies and several more online. Websites such as www.homebuddies. com and www.thedomesticdivas.net are also helpful in finding reliable in-home care. Although subjective, another great source of local information is neighbors, friends, and fellow church members. Day Care Homes
According to Alabama state law, a license to provide day care must be held by “any person…providing child care…outside the child’s home for more than four hours in a 24-hour period.” (From Minimum Standards of Family Day Care Home Regulations and Procedures, State of Alabama Department of Human Resources. See link below.)
If a childcare provider watches fewer than seven children at a time in her home, regardless of the time of day, this is called a Day Care Home. Child care watch groups and network organizations, such as the National Association for Family Child Care, can provide accreditations and standards for day care providers, but registration with such groups is optional and often expensive for the provider. The State of Alabama proves more helpful for information on state minimum standards and licensed Day Care Homes in the area. Small Facility Day Care/Group Day Care These are the terms for care not provided in a single family home, but have very similar standards
Child Care in the Valley:
Whom do you trust?
By M. Dawn Jackman
as the day care home. These can legally provide care for between seven and twelve children at a time, with at least two adults supervising the children at all times. Some of these facilities provide early learning activities, but are not required by law to do so. Preschool/Day Care combination These are the largest, and often most expensive, child care providers, because they are usually fulltime and educational as well as supervisory for the child. Generally, the more specialized and private the school is, the more rigorous the curriculum, screening, reliability, training of staff and security are. Nevertheless, bigger and more expensive does not always mean better. Many preschools in the Huntsville area are affiliated with a church, and therefore exempt from various Alabama day care and preschool license regulations; although they are under the same accountability for health and safety regulations as other nonreligious facilities. The standards for operating a preschool are slightly different than those regulating day cares.
Conclusion
Trusting your child to the care of another is never easy. Choosing the right caregiver in your absence can be stressful and confusing. Thankfully, the Tennessee Valley offers several options for its families. This task need not overwhelm a parent who is clear in his expectations, educated in his options, and diligent in his search for the right child care for his child. M. Dawn Jackman is a stay at home mom (SAHM). She has a BS in elementary education and volunteers cooperatively with local preschool-aged children. She and her family live in Harvest.

Meet The Physician

Dr. David Colvard is a pediatrician at theInfants’ and Children’s Clinic in Florence.Recently Valley Babies spoke with himabout the things that are important to him. VB: Tell us about your family.Dr. Colvard: We have a big family – my wife Linda and I have been married for 26 years now, and we’re blessed with 5 kids. Our oldest, James, is a third year medical student. Our next one, Jennifer, is completing her masters in teaching English as a Second Language. Cara is a sophomore at Shorter College majoring in chemistry. Evan is a Senior in high school; he thinks he wants to major in engineering. Our youngest is Dustin, 6th grader at Covenant Christian School.VB: What do you most enjoy about being a pediatrician?Dr. Colvard: Meeting and interacting with the children and trying to provide them with the medical care they need.VB: What is the best advice you can offer new parents?Dr. Colvard: One of my wise, now retired, colleagues told me the best gift a parent can give his child is to love his or her spouse. Realize your child is a gift; the relationships you build with your spouse and with your children need to be given a lot of care. Too often we see situations where parents put their children at risk because of problems between spouses.VB: You’re bilingual I understand. How does that impact your work?Dr. Colvard: It impacts my work in a very positive way. It allows me to communicate with many patients in our area who speak only Spanish and provide them quality health care. I also help with a free clinic that meets in the Shoals area, La Clinica Cristiana which meets once a month at Highland Park Baptist Church annex. This is a free clinic staffed by nurses, doctors, translators, social service workers etc. We’ve been doing this for about 3 ½ years. It’s been a great asset for the area. On a given night we may have 30 – 40 patients. Many pharmacists donate time and resources as well, so we are able to give the medications or provide them low cost prescriptions. Area pastors and retired missionaries lead worship services prior to the clinic, and provide ministerial counseling there, also. The targeted service population is primarily uninsured Hispanic patients.VB: You are involved in a project here that is close to your heart, tell us about it.Dr. Colvard: One of the primary callings for any pediatrician is to be an advocate for children. Locally one of the avenues through which I find myself working is the Cramer Children’s Center, a nonprofit center where children who have been abused emotionally, physically, or sexually come to be evaluated and be healed from their hurts following the abuse. It is a non-threatening, childfriendly environment where children can feel comfortable as they receive their investigative interview, their medical exam, and their counseling at no cost to the child’s family. Everything there is done from the position of advocacy for the child. I currently serve on the board of directors. The center is named in honor of Bud Cramer, the US Congressman from North Alabama who was instrumental in the founding of children’s advocacy centers nationwide in the 90’sVB: How can others get involved?Dr. Colvard: The Cramer Children’s Center needs our community support in several ways. First is financial. Since it is a non-profit agency, it survives on donations and grants. We currently face a crisis in that some of the funding that was projected from federal grants for next year has been reallocated due to the war effort, so we are in the midst of a fund-raising effort to try to support the center through this next year. If you would like to give an end-of-theyear deductible gift to help support the Center, call 256-760-1140 or emailcramercac@bellsouth.net. Learn more at their website www.cramerchildrenscenter.com.

Sweet Baby Skin

Your Baby’s skin: something you love to touch, smell and care for. Baby skin is extremely delicate and vulnerable to outside influences—the environment, chemicals from skin care items, detergents, perfumes and dyes, and even your favorite wooly sweater. Bath time, though usually a relaxing and calming event, can produce an unwanted outcome of dry, patchy and itchy skin if the products you use on your baby are harsh and full of chemicals. Baby skin is different from adult skin and should be cared for carefully and conscientiously. Birth is a natural process, but what is not natural is what many parents put on their baby’s skin. Americans worry about what kind of food they eat; they want natural and organic foods. Nevertheless, many moms and dads are blissfully unaware of what they are putting on their baby. When they ignore the importance of taking care of their baby’s skin, they compromise his health. What kinds of ingredients will you find in most baby products? The first and foremost ingredient is usually either mineral oil or petrolatum. Both of these products are by-products of gasoline during the refining process. The FDA does not review or regulate cosmetics products or ingredients for safety before they are sold to the public and has no legal authority to require safety assessments of cosmetics; consequently, for many, many years, petroleum products have been sneaking their way into our bodies. These products DO form a barrier as many of them claim, but it is such a thick barrier that the skin cannot function properly. The product sits on top of the skin, is not absorbed, remains greasy, and ultimately does not moisturize because it never is delivered beneath the top layer. It simply does not allow the skin to perform its 4 basic functions. Additionally, who really wants to support more consumption of petroleum products via cosmetics?

Another problem ingredient has recently come to light. HealthNewsDigest.com published an article about Dioxane, a petrol-chemical found in many baby and adult bath products. The EPA has labeled this as a probable cancer-causing chemical,and it was discovered at 2 times the maximum FDA allowance in several popular baby products. The National Toxicology Program has identified it as a clear-cut animal carcinogen. Because it is a contaminant produced during manufacturing, the FDA does not require it to be listed as an ingredient on product labels. How is the consumer to be informed? For years, tear-free shampoo and body washes have been a parent’s best friend. Anyone who has given a baby or toddler a bath will tell you that it is nearly impossible to avoid getting some of the product in the eyes. Tear free does have a dirty little secret, however. Most of the bath products contain harsh chemicals that will sting the eyes. Tear free occurs when a mild antiseptic is added to the product to numb the baby’s eyes from the chemical exposure. Not so nice anymore. These and so many other contaminants are found in the skin care products we use on our children daily. With no federal regulation, it is up to the parents to make an educated decision as to the purity of the product for use on their child. Keeping their baby’s skin moisturized and protected should be a top priority for all parents. It is important that we address babies’ sensitive skin needs with ingredients that protect it naturally, for their health both now and also in the future.

By: DeAnna Vouvakis

Moms Helping Moms

Many first-time moms who plan to breastfeed make the assumption that they’ll be able to do it without any trouble. You figure it’s natural, right, so what’s the big deal? It may very well have been easier in the days when there was no question how you would feed your baby. Women were surrounded by other women nursing their babies from the time they were girls. Today few mothers have that sort of training by observation before making the decision to nurse their own baby. You may be in for a shock if breastfeeding doesn’t work the way you expected it to! Imagine coming home with a happily nursing babe, only to find a day or two later that your breasts are so engorged, baby can’t latch on. Baby is screaming in hunger, and you’re in pain. What do you do? Your mom doesn’t have a clue because you and your siblings were bottle-fed, and none of your friends can help, either. It’s just this sort of scenario that spells an early – and unnecessary – end to many breastfeeding plans. A postpartum doula can help with breastfeeding in a number of ways that make her a valuable resource to add to your list of consultants. Her only priority in your first days home is to see that you are well cared for. Are you eating and drinking well? Are you resting enough? Do you have a comfortable place in your home to get breastfeeding off to a good start? These are the elements of an essential foundation for breastfeeding success. With this kind of personal attention, she may spot problems before they happen. Do you need more privacy to gain confidence with this not-so-natural mothering task? Are you unwittingly trying to feed on a schedule? Have you developed a breastfeeding routine or technique that inadvertently interferes with nursing? Even mothers experienced with breastfeeding can find themselves facing a dilemma that requires help to overcome. Most postpartum doulas are not lactation consultants. Their passion encompasses a variety of new parent issues in addition to breastfeeding. But if you encounter a problem that she can’t address, she will have a list of lactation consultants for referral, and can ease your concerns about whether you really need a referral. She can also help you implement the instructions of a lactation consultant. She is your partner in getting your parenting adventure off to a strong start. And there is no better start for you and your baby than successful breastfeeding. Lisa Clark is a mother of four and breastfeeding advocate. She and her business partner own Mother Care Doulas, a postpartum doula service.

By: Lisa Clark

Nursing and the Working Mom

Okay, so you know that breastfeeding is the bestfeeding but how do you nurse and work at the same time? Here are some surefire tips to keep the milk flowing!Preparation:The preparation for going back to work begins as soon as the baby is born. It is important to establish your milk supply in the first 6 weeks so that it will be enough for your little one while in childcare.-        Pump while in hospital and when you come home to bring your milk in. You probably will not get much, but the pumping will add to your little ones sucking.-         Try not to supplement for the first 4 weeks or so. This will help establish your milk supply.-         Avoid overusing pacifiers. Let your child suck for comfort-that is if your nipples are not killing you.-         Introduce expressed milk or formula in a bottle around 1 month. Use a bottle designed for breastfeeding mothers, it will help eliminate nipple confusion.-         Contact a lactation consultant or your pediatrician for more help.Tips for Keeping your Milk Production Up After Going Back to Work After you go back to work: it may be harder to supply enough milk for your little one. Here are some tips that will help you succeed.-         Get the right equipment. A double electric pump will help you to pump milk fast and efficiently. Also you may need nursing pads to put in your bra to prevent messy leaks.-         Nurse on demand when you are at home, this is so important! The baby is able to get more milk out of your breasts than a pump can thereby increasing your milk production. The breast works on the principle of supply and demand. An empty breast will make more milk and a full one will produce less.-         Nurse during your lunch hour if it is feasible. Most care providers will welcome you to come and feed your baby. They should provide you a private and comfortable place to feed.-         Prepare an insulated lunch box with a cold pack and extra bottles for pumping. Take this to work and pump at your normal feeding times. Ginger, a full time working mom to 7 month old-        Emma, says it is really important not to forget your bottles or you will be miserably full all day.-         Virginia, mom to 7 month old Alvin, says it is important to find a comfortable place to pump and to ignore people who might have comments about it.-         If your milk production seems to be lacking, there are lots of milk increasing remedies you-        can find at your local health food store or nursing boutique. Angie, mother of Eli 9 months,-        also suggests eating oatmeal and drinking Ovaltine to keep your production up.-        Most importantly get support! Join your local La Leche league or other mommy group. Here are some web addresses of local support groups.

-         The Huntsville/Madison Mommy Milk Meetup http://mommymilk.meetup.com/230/

-         http://www.llli.org/

In reality not all working mothers may be ableto continue breastfeeding exclusively; however, it is important to remember that any amount of breastfeeding is better than none. So go out there and get that milk flowing! Summer Stidham is Mother to Eli (18 months old) and get that milk flowing!

By: Summer Stidham

XTREME MAKEOVER

Two-and-a-half year old Chesney Forsyth, daughter of Kari and Jeremiah Forsyth of Athens was born on April 1, 2005, at 26 weeks of gestation. Kari had an incompetent cervix. She had lost a previous pregnancy at 17 weeks, so at 16 weeks her doctor put a stitch in her cervix and placed her on bedrest. Nevertheless, her cervix began to efface, so she spent four weeks in the antepartum unit at Huntsville Hospital for Women and Children. Kari was able to come home, but within a week of her homecoming, labor had begun. When Chesney was born, she weighed only 1 lb. 12 oz., and was 13 inches long. She remained in the NICU for 72 days; she was on the ventilator for the first 40 days of her life. Even when she finally did come home, she was still on oxygen and monitors. By the time she was 8 months old, Kari knew that something wasn’t right with Chesney. In October of 2005, she was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. But Chesney is a fighter! According to her mom, “Even though she has CP, that doesn’t stop her from what she wants. Chesney is considered to have mild CP. She doesn’t walk on her own yet, but she can walk in her gait trainer. We have a new brace on her now that I hope will help with her sitting and walking. She can say some words, but she is so strong, and works so hard to do what

she wants to do.” About the time that Chesney was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, Kari began to get involved with the March of Dimes. Although Kari has been told that she shouldn’t have any more children, she wants to help other moms be able to avoid the problems that prematurity inevitably brings. She hopes that it won’t be long before the March of Dimes helps researchers come up with new ways to prevent prematurity. This year Chesney is the Limestone County March of Dimes ambassador. Several months ago, her local March of Dimes coordinator contacted her to tell her that Extreme Makeover Home Edition is teaming up with March of Dimes in 12 states this coming year. One of them is Alabama! The local coordinator suggested that she apply, so she did. She received a letter from one of the producers asking her to produce a video of their house and explain why they need a new one. Right now the Forsyth family lives in an old house that just doesn’t have the room they need for Chesney’s therapy. For example, there is no long hallway for Chesney to practice walking in her gait trainer. Furthermore, the bathroom is so small, that even when she does begin to walk using a walker, she won’t be able to go to the bathroom alone. Currently Chesney goes to therapy at the Huntsville Hospital Pediatric Therapy department four times a week for speech, physical, occupational and pool therapies. If she could do some of the therapy in her home, it would be a huge help. Anyone who wants to nominate her for the makeover can do so by filling out and sending in the nomination form found at abc.com/extremehomemakeover.
com.Valley Babies wishes the Forsyth family the best of luck! If you would like to contact Kari directly, you can do so at Blustash@aol.com

By: Glenni Lorick

Sleep Glorious Sleep

Mama said there’d be nights like this. I can’t seem to learn my lesson about boasting and being smug. Despite having colic (I can say it now that it’s over), my son began sleeping through the night at the age of 6 weeks. He went to sleep at around ten at night and would not stir until 8:00 a.m. People would ask me, as people inevitably do, “How does he sleep?” My answer; a prideful, “All night, every night!”            I read somewhere that you shouldn’t brag about how well your child sleeps because it can always change. Well, change it did! When Rafe was five months old, my husband left for a mission trip to Africa, and my little slumbering angel began waking up three or more times a night. Some nights he awakened every hour. I chalked it up to things being “a little off kilter”, and didn’t worry too much. Sadly, my husband’s been back nearly two months and the night wakings haven’t changed. When I mentioned this to the pediatrician, he suggested giving him a low dose of antihistamine for a few days to “reset” his clock. For seven blissful nights, we remembered how it was to get a whole nights rest. Then on the eight night, it was back to the drawing board. We grasp at straws, trying to imagine what in the world is waking him up. Could it be teething? If so, he’s been teething for two months. We wonder if he’s getting too cold, too warm, has a tummy ache. The thing that smacks me in the face over and over about this parenting gig is that just when you think you’ve gotten over one hurdle, you bump into the mountain that follows. It vexes us when our babies wake up screaming like someone is sticking them with pins. We are bewildered when they are exhausted, nap for fifteen minutes and pop right back up ready to fight sleep with an iron will. They get over colic, then get a cold. Its enough to make you want to take drugs. But of course, you can’t. Who’d get up with the baby while you slept!? So I trudge on, chanting my mantra, “This is temporary, this is temporary!” I know this time is fleeting, the good parts as well as the not so good. He’s six months old, and I’ll turn around and be watching him get on the school bus. Notice I didn’t say ‘in the blink of an eye‘. These days closing my eyes is no laughing matter! I used to pray that he would sleep again. Now I pray that I can be loving at 3:00 a.m. when it’s the fifth time I’m up, leaning over the crib. I pray that God will help me remember that, right this minute, my baby is the most important piece in the puzzle of my life. He’s more important than the anxiety I feel when the sink is full of dishes and the floor full of grit. He’s healthy, and I’m so grateful for that. Therefore, in the morning, bleary eyed, I drop down on the floor to play with my boy, who, for the moment, thinks I’m more fun than any light blinking, bell ringing toy. Maybe soon we’ll get some sleep around here. I hope it begins before the child is three years old. My husband has threatened my life if I read aloud to him from one more book about how to get your baby to sleep. Just like other parents looking for answers, I dig into every possible source. But for now, he’s blessedly sleeping. When I look at him on the monitor, he’s so precious, it makes me want to go and kiss him. I won’t, of course, at the risk of waking him. I’ll just wait until he wakes up to kiss him. It shouldn’t be long now. This is Lori Boatfield, nodding off! Lori Boatfield is a writer, local television host, wife, and mother. Educated at Snead State and Auburn University, she earned a bachelor of arts in communication. She lives in Boaz with husband Jason and 9 month old son Rafe. Happily working (mostly) from home, Lori is busy scripting Marshall Medical Centers marketing programs, working on a book about coping with postpartum depression, and is in the finishing stages of writing a novel.

By: Lori Boatfield

Ricki Lake’s Birth Documentary

The Alabama Birth Coalition invites you to the FREE sneak preview of The Business of Being Born. It will be shown in Huntsville on January 31, 2008, at 7:00 pm at the UAH Chan Auditorium. After a disappointing birth experience with her first child, actress Ricki Lake recruits filmmaker Abby Epstein to examine and question the way American women have babies. The film interlaces intimate birth stories with surprising historical, political and scientific insights as well as shocking statistics about the current maternity care system. When director Epstein discovers she is pregnant during the making of the film, the journey becomes even more personal. Should most births be viewed as a natural life process, or should every delivery be treated as a potentially catastrophic medical emergency? The film includes interviews with well-known advocates for physiological birth including Dr. Michel Odent, an OB/GYN and author of The Caesarean; Susan Hodges, President of Citizens for Midwifery; Dr. Robbie Davis- Floyd, PhD in Medical Anthropology and author of Birth as an American Rite of Passage; Ina May Gaskin, Certified Professional Midwife and author of Spiritual Midwifery and Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth; and Dr. Marsden Wagner, former director of Women’s and Children’s Health, World Health Organization. The Business of Being Born advocates for the role of the Certified Nurse Midwife. In the words of Dr. Odent, “We are completely lost and we have forgotten to raise the most simple questions. What are the basic needs of women in labor? The fact that midwives have disappeared is a symptom of the lack of understanding of the basic needs of women in labor.” This film is a must see for EVERY woman! Kristen Brinkley is a UAH nursing student, mother of two, and an advocate for more respectful birthing practices.

By: Kristen Brinkley

Birth of a Mother

  

In May of 2000, a new mother was born. Yes, a new mother was born as I gave birth to my first child, a sweet 7 pound 12 ounce baby boy! I felt so vulnerable and yet so empowered at the same time; birth is an amazing transition into motherhood.

I prepared for birth like a student prepares for a thesis. I studied and read every book I could get my hands on. I also spoke with other moms and did countless internet searches for “birth stories.” I wanted to be well educated about this most important event that would change my life. I was about to become a Nurturer, a Friend, an Educator, an Encourager, a Comforter… a Mother! After a few months of research, I was convinced that a natural birth was the one for me! No drugs, just loads of encouragement  from my birth “coaches.” Then, I decided to do something really drastic….I chose a Midwife team for a home birth! My family was completely freaking out! My friends had never considered a homebirth either. My Dad had countless “talks” with me about the advancement of medical technology and asked me at least 20 times, “Why?”. A planned homebirth is not for everyone. Why me? I chose a homebirth because it made me feel more comfortable to think about having my baby in my own home and away from distractions and interventions. I did not want to be offered drugs for my labor. I felt confident in the way my body was created to give birth. I chose two wonderful, educated and competent midwives who trust that the woman’s body was strategically designed to bring forth life. I was in labor for 24 hours with this first child. I was exhausted and exhilarated at the same time. I labored in my own bedroom and bathtub, riding the waves of each contraction, hanging on to my husband, with white knuckles, for support. This first birth taught me endurance. I endured hours and hours of the unknown as my body ripened for the delivery of a precious soul. I had no idea where I was during the process, whether I was in “early labor” or “transition” but I listened carefully to my midwives for guidance. They used herbs and homeopathy to assist and ease the effects of labor. When my son was born at 5:30 the next morning, I immediately started singing! It was truly an amazing feeling to work so hard and endure so much pain for so long, to hold a tiny, soft baby and feel completely overwhelmed with love and joy. A Mama was born that day. I instantly acquired a new title, and it is the best and most fulfilling occupation I have ever had. Judy has given birth to three incredible children, two at home with a midwife team and the last child at a “birth house” in Tennessee with the same midwives. Why Tennessee? Because Alabama law doesn’t recognize the Certified Professional Midwife as a healthcare practitioner. She is Co-Founder and Co-Facilitator of “Birth Stories and More”, a monthly discussion group for Moms and Moms-to-be to promote natural birth options and healthy living. There is no charge; anyone is welcome to visit! Please contact Judy for more information @ judy@shesmiles.com.

By: Judy Cleve

MOPS: A Place for Moms

When I became a mother for the very first time, I experienced many emotions: excitement, joy, fear, doubt, apprehension, anxiety and a host of other feelings. I had never really been around children and didn’t know how to relate to them; furthermore, I lacked the confidence I needed as a new parent. This parenting thing was new uncharted terri tory for me. I began reading as many books as I could before the baby arrived, continuing to read more as the toddler and preschool years came. Although the books were helpful to me, providing suggestions from different points of view on how to raise my child, they were just that – books. I didn’t have a support system of women who were going through exactly what I was at that in my life. My husband and I waited until our mid-thirties to begin our family, so most of our friends were already beyond the baby years, well into the challenges of teenagers.When my first son was six months old, my husband’s job moved our family from Alabama to the West Coast. In the midst of thousands of people  a new city, my husband and I found ourselves completely alone – new parents with an infant, no family, no friends, and more questions on parenting and children than we would care to admit out loud.
             That’s when the blessing of MOPS came into my life. MOPS – Mothers of Preschoolers – a support group for women with preschool children in their lives. I came into the path of a local group that met at a church in Northern California. I stepped out of my comfort zone and called the coordinator of the group to see if I might be able to come see what MOPS was all about. I was pleasantly surprised as I arrived on my first day to see that there were many women my age who had preschool children and whose needs were similar to mine. I was nervous, to say the least, about placing my baby into the care of strangers for the length of the meeting (2 ½ hours for that particular group). But my fears and apprehension subsided as I passed my son into the hands of loving, kind, gentle Christian women. I continued to attend MOPS in California until our family returned home to Alabama, where I promptly located another MOPS group. I now have two children, a four year old and a two year old, and I coordinate the MOPS group that meets at Capshaw Baptist Church in Harvest, Alabama. When I was a new mom with questions and concerns about my role as a mother, MOPS provided me with encouragement, answers, resources and leadership skills that I may not have found otherwise. It also gave me a time to let down my guard and just be me. At the meetings, I found friendship, satisfaction in the art of completing a simple project, time for reflection and devotion, and a time to eat a meal (without getting up except for seconds). My children have found friends, as well, and enjoy themselves while they play, hear stories, sing, do crafts, and enjoy their own little picnics with their friends in age-appropriate MOPS A Place for Moms By Beth Trees classrooms. It’s a time we all look forward to. Maybe you’re in a situation similar to mine four years ago. North Alabama is a magnet for transient families without a place to call home. There are several MOPS groups in the area that are ready and willing to share the good news of MOPS with you. All you have to do is step out of your comfort zone and make the call to find the right one for you. Maybe you have one preschooler or a house full of preschoolers — don’t face mothering preschoolers alone! Moms need someone they can draw encouragement from who is in the same season of life. MOPS is for every mother of preschoolers all around the world. Whether you’re a mom living in Alabama or California or on another continent, MOPS has aplace for you.
            Beth Trees has a degree in English and Communications. She is the Coordinator for MOPS at Capshaw Baptist Church. Beth is a stay-at-mom living with her husband, Eric, and two children, Tannen and Tristan, in Harvest, Alabama. Feel free to email her at trees_eb@bellsouth.net.

By: Beth Trees

Treasure Each Moment of Motherhood

I love Christmas because it is all about a mother and a baby. Mary knew that she was carrying the infant Messiah, but I wonder if she realized how rustic his birthplace would be? I wonder how she felt nursing him as she lay on a bed of straw in a stable far from the comfort of her own home without her mother and sisters to give her help and support? Imagine her surprise as a bunch of smelly shepherds trooped in telling her that angels had sent them! The Bible tells us that  Mary treasured these things in her heart. Like her, we need to treasure each moment with our babies. As Amy George so eloquently points out in her article, this season of life passes far too swiftly, so enjoy every day of it!

Childbirth has changed a lot since Mary had Jesus. Many of those changes save lives for mothers and babies alike. However, mothers do have less control over the process than they once did. That’s why the Alabama Birth Coalition is bringing The Business of Being Born to Huntsville on January 31. Every mother deserves to feel comfortable with her birthing situation. We are fortunate to have several wonderful facilities in the Tennessee Valley; nevertheless, some mothers want something different as you will read in Judy Cleve’s “Birth of a Mother.”

who are looking for support will learn about a great program called MOPS in an article by Beth Trees. Of course the calendar that you find in every issue is another great way to find support. Keep the calendar handy to find just the right group for you.

 Don’t miss the centerspread article about an amazing little girl from Athens. Her story is sure to strike a chord with readers everywhere. Thanks so much for picking up Valley Babies. Let our advertisers know you saw them here! Finally, be sure to mark your calendar now for May3, 2008. Valley Babies is bringing all  of you a wonderful present: Celebrate  Mama! Go to www.celebratemama.comto learn more. 
Merry Christmas andHappy New Year!
Glenni Lorick
Editor

GrassRoots

Mahatma Gandhi once wrote “If we are to reach real peace in this world and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with children…” Many now agree that the only hope this world has to end violence and create a world of peace is by providing a loving environment and raising children to be kind, compassionate and connected in a culture that seems all too detached from itself and the lives of children.

 Thirteen years ago, Barbara Nicholson and I hatched our idea to save the world, and it has caught on not only in the U.S. but also abroad. Both of us are parents and teachers with experiences on the front lines that have given us the perspective and determination as well as the skills to begin a grassroots nonprofit organization called Attachment Parenting International (API). What began at the kitchen table as a simple idea has grown to nearly 100 parent support groups worldwide with a comprehensive support group leader application and training program. It also functions as a national clearinghouse for parents and professionals. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, API helps parents with every aspect of parenting from preconception through the teen years by providing the latest information and research on parenting practices that strengthen parent-child relationships and families.

 Through our comprehensive website (www.attachmentparenting.org), parents from anywhere in
the world have found the information and support they’ve needed either online or by phone. No other organization has been as successful at providing a network of support to parents with current child development information that is based on sound science rather than the opinions of “experts.” API takes parenting very seriously; with the staff of passionate determined men and women at the helm of this organization, it will continue to be a lifeline and a voice for all parents as they pursue this critically important mission for the future of all children.

Lysa Parker is the co-founder & Executive Director of
API, a certified family life educator, and a parent coach
& consultant. She is the mother of two grown sons and
stepdaughter and is a grandmother to twin grandsons.
She lives in Madison with her husband Jim Parker, a
local realtor. You can contact her at lparker@parentslifeline.
com or visit her website, www.parentslifeline.com

By: Lysa Parker