UPCOMING SALE DATE: Saturday, February 21st 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Items to Sell/Buy

• Slings or Baby Carriers
• Cloth Diapers (good condition only)
• Natural toys & Wood toys
• Organic Cotton clothing
• Soft Soled shoes
• BPA-FREE bottles; glass bottles
• Breastfeeding Pillows
• Co-Sleepers

If you are interested in selling items at the market, please visit our website for more information and to fill out an online form. A new & better rate is available to sell your products and more money goes into your pocket.

by Susan Martinez, LMFT

This morning was my day off. Yes, it was my day off and I fully embraced it and enjoyed it. Ok, well not a whole day off, but 4 glorious hours once a week in which Emily comes and to babysit. In recent weeks, I have used the time to get the oil changed, go to the dentist, and go to the doctor. However, today I stayed in and locked myself in the master bedroom. I took a bath (with jets and bubbles!), read, exercised, called a friend, and folded laundry. Then I emerged refreshed and rejuvenated to greet my kids and take on mommy responsibilities.

One of the things I learned in my internship as a Marital and Family Therapist even before I had kids of my own was the importance of taking care of your self first. This is a challenge. However, we need to take care of ourselves so we can take care of our kids. I’m reminded of this every time I fly when the flight attendant reminds me, that in the event of an emergency, I need to put the oxygen mask over my face first and then put one over my child’s face. I won’t be much use to my child if I’m unconscious. I have found that the best way to get my needs met is to schedule short frequent regular breaks. That way I can meet my kid’s needs as they arise because I have the ability to wait and delay gratification and they don’t. Well, my older child does now, but my younger one definitely doesn’t yet.

This month I will be teaching a class on infant care in which we will explore the many joys and challenges of taking care of an infant during the first year. During this stage in particular, this issue of self care is critical because it is such a labor intensive period and our children need so much from us. The ability to trust is established mainly in the preverbal years. It is the developmental task in infancy. It is during the preverbal years that the child has his or hers first experiences with relationships. If trust is not formed during this period, unconscious defenses are created to protect oneself against the pain of disappointment, abandonment and loss. Research suggests that these defenses remain a part of the child’s personality throughout his or her life. John Bowlby who devoted his professional career to studying attachment patterns found that attachment patterns lasted from “cradle to grave”.

So, faced with such responsibilities in parenting, it is imperative that we prepare ourselves, do the best we can when we are caring for our kids, be mindful of who we are using to take care of our children in our absence, and take breaks to stay fresh. There is no one right way to do this. Each family needs to find their own way. Burnout is all too common in our culture in which lack of social support has become commonplace. Most of us aren’t blessed with a village to raise our child, we need to find one and build one.

Come join me at the infant care class on Saturday February 21st at 3:00 pm to learn more about the developmental stages and needs of your 3-12 month old child. We will be discussing milestones, needs, stages, attachment and separation, and daily routines around feeding, sleep and play.

LEARN MORE • REGISTER NOW

One of our very own clients at Natural Lullabies has recently launched a fabulous breastfeeding product.
We are excited to be one of the first to carry this product and to support this great new company. Lady Lait provides nursing fashions that are chic, comfortable and convenient.

The very first Lady Lait product is called "Eve". It is a nursing tunic that offers the convenience of also being fashionable enough to wear out of the house but comfortable enough to wear it to bed. THe woner and founder of Lady Lait, Sarah, designed this product after the birth of her son just a few years ago. She searched every where trying to find exactly what she wanted. After being disappointed that nothing was available, she decided to make it herself.

We congratulate Sarah on going for her dreams and support her company 100%. You can find the Eve tunic at Natural Lullabies boutique, available in Black or Brown in sizes Small - XL.

You can also visit her website for more information at www.ladylait.com.

Just a few months ago we launched our new Pure Birth - Holistic Birth Education class. Having worked for over 5 years teaching childbirth classes we decided it was time to make it just our own. Pure Birth has been well-received and it seems the families are truly enjoying our new curriculum. We are delighted to announce that we have even found a Birth Center in another state who has purchased the curriculum and is using to help families there!

Pure Birth is based on the philosophies of many childbirth experts including Ina May Gaskin, who is author of Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. In fact, in our 8-week series we have been enjoying an actual midwife from The Farm and who's story if featured in this very book. Jeanne Madrid, CPM, joins us during the series to offer her insight and wisom about childbirth and brings along her insightful stories from being on the Farm with Ina May hereself.

If you are interested in learning more, please visit our website at www.naturallullabies.com/pure-birth.html.

Classes are limited to 8-9 couples and have been full, so if you're interested please sign up early. Our upcoming schedule includes:

• March 1st – April 26th (no classes April 12th) :: Sundays 4:00 – 6:30 pm
• May 4th - June 29th (no classes May 25th for Memorial day) :: Mondays 6:00 - 8:30 pm
• July 12th - August 30th :: Sundays 4:00 - 6:30 pm