Family Fun!

Bubbles, beanbag toss and some good family fun!  That’s what we’ll have on Monday, May 21 for the Official Book Launch Event!  What a better way to celebrate health and community than to have fun together!

This event is so exciting for me.  I get to share so many of the ideas and hopes that I have for this project and for the future!  I am honoured by the response to the book and I continue to learn so much!

So if you have some time on Victoria Day, pop down to St. Luke’s Anglican Church,  3233 Argyle Road, Regina, 2:00pm – 4:00pm.  You will see us blowing bubbles, tossing beanbags and having a great time with our families!

 

12 More Days!

The date is drawing closer and plans are falling into place!  I have beautiful weather on order, so I’m hoping we will spend the first half of the event outside enjoying the sunny weather and green grass!

We will all need a way to keep our beautiful angels entertained, so we will have a few games set up, beanbag toss, etc!

As part of the event, we will be signing books, talking about our project and I will read some of the poems from the book for you.  In the spirit of this project, I hope that the love and energy that has gone into producing “How I Survived Early Motherhood,” will remind us of the importance of community support and understanding for our families, children, and anyone that may be affected by mental health issues.

Part of the proceeds from this event will go toward sponsoring a “Mental Health First Aid” course in our community.  I believe that knowledge and awareness are key to lifting the stigma attached to mental health issues.

Click the following link for more information about Mental Health First Aid: http://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.ca/EN/Pages/default.aspx

 

Win Free Portraits!

Attend the May 21 Book Launch event and enter to win a free child’s portrait set with Andrea Norberg Photography!

Pick your favorite cupcake!

Our special treat to you at the “Offical Book Launch Event,” will be cupcakes.  But who knew there were so many choices??  We need your help choosing what to get, please take a second to do the Favorite Cupcake Poll and we will do our best to have everyone’s favorite!!

Official Book Launch Event!!

You are invited!!  Come down to St. Luke’s Anglican Church for our Official Book Launch Event on May Long Weekend: Monday, May 21 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm!!

We will have cupcakes, a poetry reading and other great entertainment!  See you there!

We’re in this together!

Of my many wonderful friends that have shared their experience of motherhood, most have had a real struggle with the everyday stresses of parenting.  For some reason, we seem to think that it is easy for everyone else!  This is not true!  Some days are better than others, sometimes there is more support available, but parenting is hard and stressful and sometimes scary!

Let’s all forgive ourselves for the dishes on the counter, the occasional parenting mistake, and the disheveled state of the house.  We love our kids, we’re doing our best and the biggest reward I have for being run ragged by my two brilliant children are the waves of love and pride I feel when I look at them.  Whether because of me or despite me, both of my babies have grown into absolutely fascinating little people and continue to grow and thrive under my protection.

Let’s remember to be open and honest with our successes and challenges, it makes it so much more manageable to tackle things together!

Thank-you

As this project develops I am reminded that I have so many people to thank for the support, wisdom & honesty that has helped me along my healing journey and in bringing this work of art to life.

Because of the time, work and caring of so many people, I did not need to suffer alone for long.  Recovery from depression is a long road and I am grateful to those who have worked so hard to make it easier for mothers and families to get the support they need.

Sometimes parenting is about survival; we need to go from day to day and keep things as simple as possible.  Sometimes it is gruelling hard work; preparing meals, changing diapers, appointments, dishes and mountains of laundry.  Sometimes it is incredibly fulfilling; “I love you all the way to the stars Mommy!”

The challenges we face in caring for our children and keeping them happy and safe are momentous and I find one of the best ways to get through the tough days is to have a community of friends and family; to help get us all out of the house, to commisterate, to celebrate, to laugh together and sometimes cry together.  Motherhood was not meant to be tackled alone!  We need to stick together!!

So, in closing for tonight, I would like to say a special Thank-you to all my family and friends that have been there and continue to be there, Thank-you to the women & men that have done so much hard work in raising awareness of postpartum depression.  Thank-you to my amazing children (don’t get me wrong… they challenge me every moment of every day!! and night!!) they have made me seach my soul, right down to the very deepest, darkest part; and they still love me, all the way to the moon!