What seems to be working? October 18, 2007
Well we have three weeks of experience at Parenting Oasis so far. When I was working on what my vision of Parenting Oasis was, I kept telling people mainly I saw it as a space. A place where parents could hang out on a rainy day and have an adult conversation. That seems so simple but as many of us know, it isn’t simple and when you can’t get it, it matters a lot. I have lots of research on postpartum depression and social isolation of mothers that supports the idea that tackling isolation serves mothers and therefore serves babies. Whether it is something as serious as postpartum depression or just the rainy day blues, I strongly believe that having a nuturing place for parents makes a difference.
I know that this is my baby, but I love being at Parenting Oasis. I love Tania’s cooking and I love watching mothers have someone else prepare and serve them food with loving care. I love the massages Kristin has given me but I also love watching parents return from their massage with the warm, drunken look on their face and find their little one’s playing peacefully under watchful eyes of our community. This week it was little things like having one mom teach another mom how to teach finger knitting to kids, having a mother get an hour of music practice time while we watched her kids, just moms sharing resources and talents.
The next step is to bring in enough money and support to pay for some of the services we are providing and soon we would like to be able to add Saturday time so that parents working outside the home can get some time together as well. So stop by, see what we are up to. This week we have two great programs- a free “What’s Normal?” discussion with family therapist Paula Achenbackh and the Red Cross CPR First Aid training ($25). And there is always room for lunch and a massage. Consider offering a class, making a donation or volunteering your time. There is so much more we want to do to support Twin Cities parents.