The Who & What that Makes Me
Who Completes Me?
Background | Family | Identity
I followed my doula on Facebook right-up to her retirement a few years ago. This job is one that is based on trust, respect and chemistry, so it seems fair that anyone who wants to consider bringing me into the home or birth space should know who and what round me out as a person.
My husband is a civil engineer in the city, and that has always meant an early start during the week, even when we had babies. Most of my clients are shocked to learn that the only days off a new dad got back then were unused vacation days, and for one or two of our kids, that meant 3 or 4 if we wanted to be home for a week at Christmas. The feeling that this instills is really why I was desperate to become a postpartum doula before I certified in birth. No matter how local your family is, or how much preparation you do, the 4th trimester is exhausting and life-altering.
We successfully raised 4 children in Wyckoff and lived in the same house for most of my married life, I describe myself as Jersey gal, but my extended family is from NH. When my mom passed in 2023, our nuclear family entered into what I can only describe as its Reality TV Drama phase. Thank goodness, I was embraced by my husband’s extended family and both help me see how impactful our actions are upon others.
The most comfortable labels I claim mostly relate to family: Daughter without her mother, wife, daughter-in-law, sister, aunt, sister-in-law (thank goodness), mother, Golden Mom (I am totally in love!), friend, cousin, and neighbor.
Perhaps a want-to-be coffee snob, although I seem to enjoy all of options since they are paired with friends, laughter, and mentorship. BullDog Coffee, Paris Baguette and I love tacos, salsa, long walks, Bollywood music, Pink, and Broadway plays. I stay away from the mall, stink at on-line grocery orders and really love meeting new families as I have a good handle on Zoom!
My in-laws are amazing! My FIL is a retired nuclear engineer, MIL is a brilliantly eloquent woman with 7 children. Both of them reign from Ireland, so our kids have dual-citizenship thanks to their brave story. Equally interesting is that my own family tree can be traced back to President John Adams, so like me, my daughter is a Daughter of the Mayflower! The best parts of my life are wherever I can be with them.
Interests - In and Out of Birth Work
CEU's, Tech, and Passtimes
If you have spent time on my website, I do not need to tell you much more about my tech skills. They are mediocre at best, but it’s how I challenge myself to be better.
CEU’s are really interesting way to get to know more about your doula, especially if you find us through the bigger organizations, DONA. In order to re=certify, most organizations require relevant and quality continuing education. Most of the education I elect to pursue support maternal mental health, NICU families, breastfeeding, and postpartum nutrition. Cooking and prepping food are a special love.
When I have free time, I love to spend it with my Goldens, Shelby & Winnie. They enjoy a good couple of hours on the couch reading, walking in Ridgewood to Paris Baguette or Bulldog Coffee Company. My husband and I take them to Hoboken to see our eldest son and eat tacos. If the stars align, we all have gone to the Golden Jubilee at Dewey Beach for Romp in the ocean. Dogs are good medicine for me.
Fall is all about football in our house. Raising 3 boys who played and a daughter who cheered for Ramapo Football indoctrinated me. Besides that, there are no extra TV’s to watch anything else. Winter time is all about college basketball – we paid tuition to UCONN, Seton Hall & Villanova. Enough about that as we look forward to celebrating the last tuition payment to TCNJ in a few years…
When I doula, it is with the hope that someday, a doula will take care of my own kids one day the same way. A person who comes into your home to take care of you at a very intimate time in your lives should be warm, open, and loyal to your privacy. I promise that I will do that for you.
