- If you ask me how old I am, I'll tell you 24. If you want to know my real age you'll have to ask my husband because I lost count a few years ago. I was born in 1987 if you care to do the math.
- My husband and I met on myspace (that alone should tell you I'm not really 24) when it was the best form of social media. I had just moved to Fort Wayne, and he lived less than a mile away. It was meant to be.
- I picked out my wedding date before we even were officially dating. It was the day after my late great grandfather's birthday and I knew it was the perfect choice as soon as I spotted it on a calendar.
- We named our daughter after a children's book turned movie. We will always be kids at heart. Sweet Coraline will probably live in fear of her other mother coming to snatch her away. We might not have really thought that through.
- I am a Buckeye, born and raised. I may live in Indiana, but heart is in Ohio. I secretly fear for the day I have a client in labor during the big game with that team up north. I'll gladly go, but it is like my Christmas.
- Every time I make plans, I add in, unless I'm at a birth. It is to the point that my husband even says, “We'll be there, unless she's at a birth.” Giving up the ability to make rigid plans has been one of my biggest obstacles with this career.
- I am an administrator and teacher with the local babywearing group (Babywearers of Northeast Indiana). I really love being able to facilitate a wearing relationship between a caretaker and a baby. Just like doula work, not everything works for every body so trial and error is the way to go.
- I cry at the drop of a hat in my everyday life, but rarely do I tear up at a birth. I can look at birth pictures online and here comes the rain, but in the moment, I'm so focused on the task at hand, the tears are saved for the drive home.
- I worked for H&M for nearly 7 years, before becoming a doula. It was a lot of work, way more than I expected from a retail job. The 7 values they hold their employees to have stuck with me even a year after I left. I find myself spouting off H&Misms in my daily life and forget that others don't have them ingrained in their subconscious.
- I became a doula, not because I'm a birth junkie., but because I wanted to support women in reaching their birthing goals, whatever they may be. It doesn't matter to me if you want an epidural as soon as you are in active labor, or if you choose to have your water broken to speed things along, as long as you are making the choice, I support you 100%. (Don't get me wrong, I love to read about birth, and talk about birth with friends and clients, I just don't get an emotional high from being at your birth).
In honor of World Doula Week, I am participating in a Blog Challenge with other doulas from around the world! Click the image below to see their work.