Relaxing Vacations
Have you ever had to recover from a vacation? Your pour so much time into getting to a dozen places or travel great distances and are so busy that you don't take time to rest... and return to work less rested than before you left.
We had a VERY relaxing ten days, spending loads of time with our kids, visiting a few family members, shopping and taking in a few events, and working on the house and yard. How wonderful to just hang out with your kids, play in the sandbox (which we just built and it is HUGE), go swimming and enjoy each other. We are planning a trip this fall, but I like this vacation just as much as if we had spent tons of money and gone somewhere extravagant!
Monday, June 28, 2004
Saturday, June 26, 2004
Diversification Gone Wrong
I was in my hometown yesterday visiting family and I happen to be reading one of those small daily's small cities have. I came across the "newly expanded" business of an old aquantance. She is a hair dresser with amazing talent and great ideas for her business. Her artistic talent with hair extends easily to interior design. This has brought her a long way as her salon was absolutely stunning last time I was there. Yet it was strangely quiet, even when other salons were booming... so what was the problem? Sadly, I think it attributes to her personality... she was an incredibly negative person (at least when I knew her). When working on your hair, normal chit-chat would turn to her putting down others, even friends and family of the person in her chair. It was disconcerting to say the least and I know more than one has moved to another hairdresser for that reason, though reluctantly because of her talent. So in order to make money she has chosen to diversify rather than fix what is wrong, improving herself.
Diversification isn't a bad thing, any strong business should always be looking for ways to improve in order to stay strong and current. I have seen this somewhat in my own field as well, doulas and educators diversifying to increase their income. Diversification has also answered the needs of a business in turning the focus from a primary service towards the deversified service or product. For instance, a business primarily started to provide maternity clothing many have evolved very successfully into an infant clothing company or into providing specialized breastfeeding services and products. This isn't an easy shift however and needs to be done very carefully and with lots of forward vision and planning.
My own Mother Care has very successfully diversified both with services (providing childbirth education and postpartum support to round out doula services) and our international catalogue specifically for birth professionals was the answer to many who couldn't find the products we made or carried in Canada. These were all in our primary vision and initial business plan, however we streamlined when we answered the need for quality training workshops in Western Canada and sold the catalogue to better focus on this.
All businesses should start up with a strong business plan and have the market research showing the need of that business's product or service in the area. Without either, or preferrably both, the business owners are unable to address the needs of their potential customers because they don't know how to reach those customers. Sadly, most businesses choose to diversify because of lack of income because of this, which only strains the business financially and doesn't address the initial problem.
This is especially so when you see a business diversifying into products or services far removed from a business's initial business plan. When you see this, you know that either the need isn't there or that business owner is not addressing key internal issues. This type of diversification will only confuse customers and take away from the entepreneur's vision and focus... which is never good. Take the salon I mentioned above. My aquantance above has diversified into "adult" products which are a loong stretch from the cutting edge hair salon it was. Not exactly what a high-end salon would have in their initial business plan. So it can be seen in doula businesses who have diversified into... say children's used clothing or nanny services. Either the planning wasn't right or there is a problem within.. like the business owner is not addressing her clients needs. Choose wisely when purchasing services, especially when they are as important as self-esteem (hairdressing) or birthing (doula services).
I was in my hometown yesterday visiting family and I happen to be reading one of those small daily's small cities have. I came across the "newly expanded" business of an old aquantance. She is a hair dresser with amazing talent and great ideas for her business. Her artistic talent with hair extends easily to interior design. This has brought her a long way as her salon was absolutely stunning last time I was there. Yet it was strangely quiet, even when other salons were booming... so what was the problem? Sadly, I think it attributes to her personality... she was an incredibly negative person (at least when I knew her). When working on your hair, normal chit-chat would turn to her putting down others, even friends and family of the person in her chair. It was disconcerting to say the least and I know more than one has moved to another hairdresser for that reason, though reluctantly because of her talent. So in order to make money she has chosen to diversify rather than fix what is wrong, improving herself.
Diversification isn't a bad thing, any strong business should always be looking for ways to improve in order to stay strong and current. I have seen this somewhat in my own field as well, doulas and educators diversifying to increase their income. Diversification has also answered the needs of a business in turning the focus from a primary service towards the deversified service or product. For instance, a business primarily started to provide maternity clothing many have evolved very successfully into an infant clothing company or into providing specialized breastfeeding services and products. This isn't an easy shift however and needs to be done very carefully and with lots of forward vision and planning.
My own Mother Care has very successfully diversified both with services (providing childbirth education and postpartum support to round out doula services) and our international catalogue specifically for birth professionals was the answer to many who couldn't find the products we made or carried in Canada. These were all in our primary vision and initial business plan, however we streamlined when we answered the need for quality training workshops in Western Canada and sold the catalogue to better focus on this.
All businesses should start up with a strong business plan and have the market research showing the need of that business's product or service in the area. Without either, or preferrably both, the business owners are unable to address the needs of their potential customers because they don't know how to reach those customers. Sadly, most businesses choose to diversify because of lack of income because of this, which only strains the business financially and doesn't address the initial problem.
This is especially so when you see a business diversifying into products or services far removed from a business's initial business plan. When you see this, you know that either the need isn't there or that business owner is not addressing key internal issues. This type of diversification will only confuse customers and take away from the entepreneur's vision and focus... which is never good. Take the salon I mentioned above. My aquantance above has diversified into "adult" products which are a loong stretch from the cutting edge hair salon it was. Not exactly what a high-end salon would have in their initial business plan. So it can be seen in doula businesses who have diversified into... say children's used clothing or nanny services. Either the planning wasn't right or there is a problem within.. like the business owner is not addressing her clients needs. Choose wisely when purchasing services, especially when they are as important as self-esteem (hairdressing) or birthing (doula services).
Friday, June 18, 2004
Friends
I was talking to a friend of mine today. She is soo amazing, we have so much in common beyond our each having four children (though hers are grown). We were talking about her work, she is the writer for Capital Health's CEO. One of our shared passions is reading and she is finding she doesn't even like reading anymore, she is tired of words. Tired of the many words she is expected to write when it would take so few to explain what needed saying. "Just get to the point," she exclaimed in frustration as we talked. Yet it is like this in anything political... the many words that are used to flower the most basic of premises. So we moved on in our conversation to our children (and her grandchildren) and our other projects, like the show home they are building (her husband owns a building company) and how my yard is taking shape (she loves my landscaping ideas and wants me to design the new show home's front yard). But then that isn't new, my previous neighbours begged me to help design their yards too after seeing mine. Hm, maybe that will be my backup occupation when I grow tired of the incredible politics of modern medicine...
I was talking to a friend of mine today. She is soo amazing, we have so much in common beyond our each having four children (though hers are grown). We were talking about her work, she is the writer for Capital Health's CEO. One of our shared passions is reading and she is finding she doesn't even like reading anymore, she is tired of words. Tired of the many words she is expected to write when it would take so few to explain what needed saying. "Just get to the point," she exclaimed in frustration as we talked. Yet it is like this in anything political... the many words that are used to flower the most basic of premises. So we moved on in our conversation to our children (and her grandchildren) and our other projects, like the show home they are building (her husband owns a building company) and how my yard is taking shape (she loves my landscaping ideas and wants me to design the new show home's front yard). But then that isn't new, my previous neighbours begged me to help design their yards too after seeing mine. Hm, maybe that will be my backup occupation when I grow tired of the incredible politics of modern medicine...
My Cup Overflows
I am not sure if it is my emerging availability now that Breanna is old enough for me to confidently support mothers or if it is my now looking at doula work as a positive in my life after all the negative of the last two and a half years, but I am suddenly getting calls from potential clients, and I have not announced my working again. I can only think that my working with the wonderful doulas in Lloydminster through successfully running the Lloydminster Doula Association is having some impact, even though none of my clients came through their referral system. I have chosen not to be on the list due to the fact that the other doulas are working towards certification, so I want them to be able to gain their births quickly. If they need support, I am always there to mentor them anyway.
I am excited again about my work! I now have clients in August, September, December, January and February, and another potential client emailed me this morning. Not all of them are in Lloydminster, but it is a huge increase from the one or two a year I have supported since I stopped doing doula work full-time in 2000 when I had Brendan. Only one of the births I attended has been in Lloydminster, so I am excited to get to know the staff better at the Lloyd. hospital. I know how incredibly busy they are, each time we attend a birth there we see the stress the nurses are under and are told repeatedly how important our support is for birthing mothers. Of all the hospitals I have worked, the nurses in Lloyd are the most overworked by far. They need our help as much as our clients do!
I am not sure if it is my emerging availability now that Breanna is old enough for me to confidently support mothers or if it is my now looking at doula work as a positive in my life after all the negative of the last two and a half years, but I am suddenly getting calls from potential clients, and I have not announced my working again. I can only think that my working with the wonderful doulas in Lloydminster through successfully running the Lloydminster Doula Association is having some impact, even though none of my clients came through their referral system. I have chosen not to be on the list due to the fact that the other doulas are working towards certification, so I want them to be able to gain their births quickly. If they need support, I am always there to mentor them anyway.
I am excited again about my work! I now have clients in August, September, December, January and February, and another potential client emailed me this morning. Not all of them are in Lloydminster, but it is a huge increase from the one or two a year I have supported since I stopped doing doula work full-time in 2000 when I had Brendan. Only one of the births I attended has been in Lloydminster, so I am excited to get to know the staff better at the Lloyd. hospital. I know how incredibly busy they are, each time we attend a birth there we see the stress the nurses are under and are told repeatedly how important our support is for birthing mothers. Of all the hospitals I have worked, the nurses in Lloyd are the most overworked by far. They need our help as much as our clients do!
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
Prenatal Classes
I have taught prenatal classes on and off for years and have attended a fair number as well, both as a pregnant mom and as a doula. I have always taught with the belief that expectant parents should come to classes with at least a working knowledge of pregnancy and birth found in Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn or a similar book. Then I teach from that point, providing classes that go beyond the basics, allowing personal growth in both mother and father which will give them both skills from which to build on through their labour and parenting experience.
Given that, it continues to astound me that instructors believe they can actually teach what a mother needs in as few as one or two classes. A friend of mine just attended a weekend series held by the local health unit (as part of her certification requirements) and came away shaking her head. Everything covered could easily have been learned from one of the many birth books out there... and most of the books did a better job. I am not saying the nurses are bad teachers, they are amazing women who are constrained both by time and restrictions placed on them by their supervisors and local doctors. They do a great job with what they are given.
More intriguing to me is independent instructors who have the time, resources and lack of supervisory constraints who teach the same way. Where they could be covering important information not found elsewhere (and any experience doula or educator truly knows what I mean when it comes to the vital importance of fetal positioning and mental preparation for childbirth), they instead resort to the droll basics such as labour progression, cervical dilation and what to bring to the hospital. This is the most basic of information and in covering this the instructor is leaving no room for the stuff parents seek out independent instructors for... how to truly experience labour on their own terms. Today I was looking at the online class outline of a doula (who is also teaching classes) and informed consent wasn't even covered - nothing is more important as a basis for childbirth education!
To prove my point, the Lloydminster Doula Association's last Parent Education Night was such a success, I can't wait to see the growth of future Nights. One expectant mother came away from that single night saying she learned more in those two hours than she had during her entire four week prenatal class series. If that isn't a testament to providing knowledge beyond the basics, I don't know what is. You go LDA!!
I have taught prenatal classes on and off for years and have attended a fair number as well, both as a pregnant mom and as a doula. I have always taught with the belief that expectant parents should come to classes with at least a working knowledge of pregnancy and birth found in Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn or a similar book. Then I teach from that point, providing classes that go beyond the basics, allowing personal growth in both mother and father which will give them both skills from which to build on through their labour and parenting experience.
Given that, it continues to astound me that instructors believe they can actually teach what a mother needs in as few as one or two classes. A friend of mine just attended a weekend series held by the local health unit (as part of her certification requirements) and came away shaking her head. Everything covered could easily have been learned from one of the many birth books out there... and most of the books did a better job. I am not saying the nurses are bad teachers, they are amazing women who are constrained both by time and restrictions placed on them by their supervisors and local doctors. They do a great job with what they are given.
More intriguing to me is independent instructors who have the time, resources and lack of supervisory constraints who teach the same way. Where they could be covering important information not found elsewhere (and any experience doula or educator truly knows what I mean when it comes to the vital importance of fetal positioning and mental preparation for childbirth), they instead resort to the droll basics such as labour progression, cervical dilation and what to bring to the hospital. This is the most basic of information and in covering this the instructor is leaving no room for the stuff parents seek out independent instructors for... how to truly experience labour on their own terms. Today I was looking at the online class outline of a doula (who is also teaching classes) and informed consent wasn't even covered - nothing is more important as a basis for childbirth education!
To prove my point, the Lloydminster Doula Association's last Parent Education Night was such a success, I can't wait to see the growth of future Nights. One expectant mother came away from that single night saying she learned more in those two hours than she had during her entire four week prenatal class series. If that isn't a testament to providing knowledge beyond the basics, I don't know what is. You go LDA!!
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
Thanksgiving
Yes I realize that thanksgiving isn't until October (November for our friends to the south), yet I have been reflecting today on the wealth I feel right now. Most significantly is a wonderful husband who is my lifemate and the closest friend I could imagine in someone of the opposite gender. Together we have three amazing sons, each so incredible in their own right, and a beautiful daughter who's eyes melt everyone who gazes into them.
My husband, the wise and frugal man he is, has allowed our family a full-time mother which is sadly a rarity in today's society of dual incomes. Not only that, he supports me and my business which does help with the income - providing the main transportation of our family - and allows me to fulfil my own calling to support pregnant and new mothers. The time commitment is minimal which allows plenty of time to focus on my families needs... which of course is my first priority.
Materially, I absolutely adore our new house. It is a 1600 sq ft 2-storey with soon-to-be four bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths (we are working on the basement). Brazilian cherry hardwood throughout the main floor, huge bedrooms and all new appliances (stainless steel is soo kewl). We also were able to purchase a couch/loveseat/recliner which matches perfectly with countertops and the tile on the fireplace. Breanna's new "toy" is the front-load washer which she loves to watch turn. Who would have thought of the entertainment value of a washing machine! The boys and Allan just finished the new deck and the landscapers have been busy all day, the yard is looking beautiful. Next week they will return to finish the backyard with the huge sandbox and stone patio off the deck. I can't wait to get the pond fish from our previous home into one of the two ponds we are working on.
God has indeed blessed me abundantly!
Yes I realize that thanksgiving isn't until October (November for our friends to the south), yet I have been reflecting today on the wealth I feel right now. Most significantly is a wonderful husband who is my lifemate and the closest friend I could imagine in someone of the opposite gender. Together we have three amazing sons, each so incredible in their own right, and a beautiful daughter who's eyes melt everyone who gazes into them.
My husband, the wise and frugal man he is, has allowed our family a full-time mother which is sadly a rarity in today's society of dual incomes. Not only that, he supports me and my business which does help with the income - providing the main transportation of our family - and allows me to fulfil my own calling to support pregnant and new mothers. The time commitment is minimal which allows plenty of time to focus on my families needs... which of course is my first priority.
Materially, I absolutely adore our new house. It is a 1600 sq ft 2-storey with soon-to-be four bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths (we are working on the basement). Brazilian cherry hardwood throughout the main floor, huge bedrooms and all new appliances (stainless steel is soo kewl). We also were able to purchase a couch/loveseat/recliner which matches perfectly with countertops and the tile on the fireplace. Breanna's new "toy" is the front-load washer which she loves to watch turn. Who would have thought of the entertainment value of a washing machine! The boys and Allan just finished the new deck and the landscapers have been busy all day, the yard is looking beautiful. Next week they will return to finish the backyard with the huge sandbox and stone patio off the deck. I can't wait to get the pond fish from our previous home into one of the two ponds we are working on.
God has indeed blessed me abundantly!
Monday, June 07, 2004
Epilepsy
I was reading the Game Cube insert for the new game the boys purchased today with Ryan's birthday money. It explained the risks of Epileptic seizures caused by the flashing lights of the game. The description brought back the memory of Eric when he would have what is termed absence seizures in which he would simply stop moving. What started out as infinitesimally brief pauses, which I attributed to being in thought and not responding, gradually grew to a minute long. I would look deep into his beautiful blue eyes and see the vacuousness combined with a slight twitch which characterizes epilepsy. To see the eyes of your child, bright with curiousity, budding knowledge and love go cold and empty gripped my heart. He would stop mid-sentence or mid-stride, his gait slowing quickly to a stop (he never fell) and he would be as a statue until the seizure was over. Homeschooling was incredibly difficult because he would have to re-read or listen to the same sentence several times in order to understand thanks to one or more seizures during that time. I would hold him tight and sometimes even cry until the seizure was over. It has been 2 1/2 years since he was diagnosed and today he is off his medication and seizure free. I pray I will never see that look in my son's eyes again and thankful that his epilepsy was successfully treated.
I was reading the Game Cube insert for the new game the boys purchased today with Ryan's birthday money. It explained the risks of Epileptic seizures caused by the flashing lights of the game. The description brought back the memory of Eric when he would have what is termed absence seizures in which he would simply stop moving. What started out as infinitesimally brief pauses, which I attributed to being in thought and not responding, gradually grew to a minute long. I would look deep into his beautiful blue eyes and see the vacuousness combined with a slight twitch which characterizes epilepsy. To see the eyes of your child, bright with curiousity, budding knowledge and love go cold and empty gripped my heart. He would stop mid-sentence or mid-stride, his gait slowing quickly to a stop (he never fell) and he would be as a statue until the seizure was over. Homeschooling was incredibly difficult because he would have to re-read or listen to the same sentence several times in order to understand thanks to one or more seizures during that time. I would hold him tight and sometimes even cry until the seizure was over. It has been 2 1/2 years since he was diagnosed and today he is off his medication and seizure free. I pray I will never see that look in my son's eyes again and thankful that his epilepsy was successfully treated.
Hemispheric Dominance and Sensory Preference
In my quest for continual improvement, both personally and professionally, I took the quiz brain.exe, at: www.tangischools.org/scho...ayfour.htm and found results interesting:
left brain: 52.2%
right brain: 47.8%
auditory: 30.8%
visual: 69.2%
I new that I was a visual learner, my husband can attest to my being auditorially challenged in that I don't take orders/advice/input/fill-in-the-blank well. However the left/right brain surprised me because when I took a similar test a few years ago I was much more a right-brain person. It goes to show that you do improve with age! The comments from the results were:
You exhibit balanced hemispheric dominance and a strong visual preference. It is the intensity of your sensory preference which may more determine your learning style.
The balance of left- and right-hemisphere usage is very helpful to a highly visual learner. You absorb your environment, selecting out details and simultaneously ebedding them in a context, an overall perspective which adds nuances of meaning. Given the prodigious rate that you input information, you naturally utilize the services of both hemispheres more or less equally.
You are active and searching, which produces energy. Because you can process multiple inputs comfortably, you do not experience the indecision of a person with mixed sensory preference. You are able to focus on more than one aspect of a situation and push for resoulution.
You can tolerate ambiguity, which is good, since you will experience a lot it due to your input style. While a part of you will always seek completion, the other part accepts the process as it is. You may occasionally get impatient with yourself. You will always be able to work thorugh problems in a logical sequence or given order, but you will have other options available to you as well.
You may find that you have insufficient time to reflect on your experiences and thus lose a sense of meaning, not appreciating your “inner being” as much as you might otherwise.
Many people would envy your combination of characteristics. Constantly seeking stimulation, you are artistic without needing to be “odd.” An active learner and yet reasonably logical and disciplined.
Take the test today and learn about your learning style. It will help you in improving knowledge retention and knowing what learning style is best for you. Have fun!
In my quest for continual improvement, both personally and professionally, I took the quiz brain.exe, at: www.tangischools.org/scho...ayfour.htm and found results interesting:
left brain: 52.2%
right brain: 47.8%
auditory: 30.8%
visual: 69.2%
I new that I was a visual learner, my husband can attest to my being auditorially challenged in that I don't take orders/advice/input/fill-in-the-blank well. However the left/right brain surprised me because when I took a similar test a few years ago I was much more a right-brain person. It goes to show that you do improve with age! The comments from the results were:
You exhibit balanced hemispheric dominance and a strong visual preference. It is the intensity of your sensory preference which may more determine your learning style.
The balance of left- and right-hemisphere usage is very helpful to a highly visual learner. You absorb your environment, selecting out details and simultaneously ebedding them in a context, an overall perspective which adds nuances of meaning. Given the prodigious rate that you input information, you naturally utilize the services of both hemispheres more or less equally.
You are active and searching, which produces energy. Because you can process multiple inputs comfortably, you do not experience the indecision of a person with mixed sensory preference. You are able to focus on more than one aspect of a situation and push for resoulution.
You can tolerate ambiguity, which is good, since you will experience a lot it due to your input style. While a part of you will always seek completion, the other part accepts the process as it is. You may occasionally get impatient with yourself. You will always be able to work thorugh problems in a logical sequence or given order, but you will have other options available to you as well.
You may find that you have insufficient time to reflect on your experiences and thus lose a sense of meaning, not appreciating your “inner being” as much as you might otherwise.
Many people would envy your combination of characteristics. Constantly seeking stimulation, you are artistic without needing to be “odd.” An active learner and yet reasonably logical and disciplined.
Take the test today and learn about your learning style. It will help you in improving knowledge retention and knowing what learning style is best for you. Have fun!
Thursday, June 03, 2004
Fatigue
I had no idea how much fatigue plays a role in parenthood. It is truly the great equalizer and I now can truly agree with it's potent abilities when used to find truths from war prisoners. I have not slept one complete night since my four-year old son was born, with 2 1/2 of those years sleep not being more than two hours at a time. Add a one-year old to the mix, who likely would sleep through the night if her brother didn't wake her at least once, and who does not go back to sleep once awakened... well you get the picture.
I am astounded at how fatigue not only affects your mental capacities, making you want to crave a vertical position at every possible moment, but how it affects your physical health as well. I am able to keep on a good functioning level with brief naps thanks to my older two sons, who's night sleep I protect as much as I can. Unfortunately, my husband who's sleep apnea prevents him from being a larger role in this, is also suffering because when I am woken, so is he.
Having four kids is not a walk in the park, I realize that. But it brings me to tears to even think about adding more to our family - something we have not seriously considered anyway. At 3 am this morning, when my littlest finally was asleep after her brother woke her at 1:30, I was in awe at my friends with "high order" children, one with 12 and one with 13. Do they ever sleep? How do they keep their sanity when all about them are sleepless?
I had no idea how much fatigue plays a role in parenthood. It is truly the great equalizer and I now can truly agree with it's potent abilities when used to find truths from war prisoners. I have not slept one complete night since my four-year old son was born, with 2 1/2 of those years sleep not being more than two hours at a time. Add a one-year old to the mix, who likely would sleep through the night if her brother didn't wake her at least once, and who does not go back to sleep once awakened... well you get the picture.
I am astounded at how fatigue not only affects your mental capacities, making you want to crave a vertical position at every possible moment, but how it affects your physical health as well. I am able to keep on a good functioning level with brief naps thanks to my older two sons, who's night sleep I protect as much as I can. Unfortunately, my husband who's sleep apnea prevents him from being a larger role in this, is also suffering because when I am woken, so is he.
Having four kids is not a walk in the park, I realize that. But it brings me to tears to even think about adding more to our family - something we have not seriously considered anyway. At 3 am this morning, when my littlest finally was asleep after her brother woke her at 1:30, I was in awe at my friends with "high order" children, one with 12 and one with 13. Do they ever sleep? How do they keep their sanity when all about them are sleepless?
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