Rachel Sanchez Family Counseling

Please check out Nurture NJ’s Calendar of Events between now and January 31! Kara Kushnir (PSI-NJ Education and Training Chair ) will discuss “Understanding PMADs” TOMORROW, January 23 at 12PM. This event is free—all are welcome!
https://nj.gov/governor/admin/fl/docs/2024_MHADCalendar.pdf

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October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. Your Loss Matters Even If:

You never told anyone you were pregnant

It happened a long time ago

You feel fine now

You have other children

You didn’t know you were pregnant

You didn’t hear a heartbeat

It happens to a lot of women

You’ve had multiple losses

It was your first loss

You hadn’t been trying long

You’ve gone on to have healthy pregnancies

You we’re told it wasn’t a big deal

You weren’t trying to conceive

You weren’t as emotional as you thought you would be

You have a lot of other things to be grateful for

You have “plenty of time”

You or someone else believes everything happens for a reason

You still haven’t processed your grief

You never got to see it on an ultrasound

It was confirmed to be genetically abnormal

You didn’t know the gender

+ More ❤️

Your pregnancy loss matters.
Your grief is valid.
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October is pregnancy/infant loss awareness month. 1 in 4 women will experience pregnancy loss. That’s too many. Too many women who have to suffer this heartache. You are seen. Your feelings are valid and how you cope is nobodies business. I’m not ashamed to say I am 1 in 4 anymore. Thankful for the support team I have around me and all the loving people I have had in my life throughout this healing process. It’s okay to be sad and to scream and yell, but it’s also okay to be happy and find joy in life after loss. Loss makes you love harder, love more, love selflessly. Loss teaches you that life is never promised. Loss teaches you anxiety. Loss gives you anxiety. But loss also makes you stronger. It teaches you that you can go on to be okay, to cope. It’s okay to not be okay. Some days are easier than others. Some days a toddler in the store, the age yours should be, smiles at you, and it hits you really hard and you cry all the way home. Grief comes in waves. Better days will come.
credit: darian janae

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month: 31 days to help the world around us understand the unique circumstances and needs of a family enduring the heartbreaking loss of a baby. Today, we begin October by acknowledging our babies born sleeping, those we carried but never met, those we held but could not take home, those we brought home but couldn't stay. We remember together the impact of their lives on ours--they are forever in our hearts.

One of my favorites!

It’s Black Maternal Mental Health Week! The week is aimed to raise awareness about the unique mental health challenges faced by Black mothers during pregnancy and after childbirth. This year, the theme is ‘Breaking cultural barriers’.

Black mothers are often disproportionately affected by mental health issues during perinatal and postpartum periods. Yet, these struggles are frequently overlooked.

Black mothers face unique challenges to their mental health, due to factors such as racial discrimination and limited access to culturally competent care. As a result, they experience higher rates of mood and anxiety disorders, including postpartum depression.

By shining a light on the unique mental health disparities experienced by this community, the week-long campaign aims to promote understanding and drive positive change in maternal healthcare practices.

This campaign is led by our friends The Motherhood Group – who are dedicated to supporting and sharing the Black maternal experience.

This week, together with The Motherhood Group, we’ll be sharing stories and advice from Black mothers about breaking cultural barriers and improving maternal mental health for Black mums.

Thank you Momwell for this post.

"So many of us end up becoming the “preferred parent” without realizing it–the one who our children turn to first for every snack, every boo-boo, and every need.

Being the preferred parent can be tough. It comes with a big invisible load, including:

〰 Being the one who is constantly needed
〰 Feeling like you are the only one able to soothe your child
〰 Resenting that others can’t help
〰 Feeling trapped
〰 Navigating impacts on relationship with partner
〰 Carrying the invisible weight of being the only preferred one
〰 Managing the guilt of how it impacts other caregivers
〰 Feeling the pressure to be constantly available
〰 Managing the emotional toll and exhaustion
〰 Trying to care for yourself
〰 Feeling alone and like no one understands the pressure
〰 Wishing others could pick up on cues the way you do

It can come with a lot of frustration, overwhelm, or resentment (often leading to guilt and shame).

We might think we should WANT to be the preferred parent or that we should be “grateful.”

But the truth is that it’s HARD. And it’s okay to feel the weight of that."

As mothers we are often the fiercest advocates for our children. We struggle when they struggle. We hurt when they hurt. We suffer when they suffer. Sometimes standing in the space between them and the world and fighting for their needs feels like it takes everything we’ve got and more. And when we face judgement and condemnation for steadfastly standing in that space, it can feel like we’re isolated, fighting alone, us against the world. It can get overwhelming and leave us feeling battered and drained and defeated. But we tape ourselves back together every night and bandage our wounds and silently battle our own fears and worries and get up every morning and strap on our boxing gloves and step into the ring again. Because we know our children. We know their needs. We know their struggles. We know their pain. We are their moms. And we will never give up on them. Ever.
-L.R.Knost
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📚Peaceful Parenting Resources: http://t.co/T8goym3P6Z 📚
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Please respect the work of authors, photographers, and artists. You are welcome to share provided you include appropriate credit and do not crop out author’s names from quote memes. Thank you. 🙂

www.LRKnost.com

Fighting a rare, incurable cancer, but I'm still here!💞 L.R.

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Love them on their best days
and their worst days
and their in between days.
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Love them when they get it right
and when they get it wrong
and when they give up halfway through.
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Love them when they’re lovable
and when they’re challenging
and when they’re just all of out-of-sorts.
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Love them fiercely.
Love them tenderly.
Love them wholly.
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And, when the time comes,
set them free,
and watch them walk away
with pockets full of love
to guide them on their journey.
🎈
L.R.Knost
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📚Peaceful Parenting Resources: Link in http://t.co/T8goym3P6Z 📚
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Please respect the work of authors, photographers, and artists. You are welcome to share provided you include appropriate credit and do not crop out author’s names from quote memes. Thank you. 🙂

www.LRKnost.com

Fighting a rare, incurable cancer, but I'm still here!💞 L.R.

Rachel Sanchez Family Counseling updated their address.

Rachel Sanchez Family Counseling updated their website address.

This fall, we are introducing new baby programs: Baby Playdates at the Park starting September 8 and Baby Walks starting September 22. Join us to explore sensory activities, experience nature, and meet other parents and caregivers in the area. Programs are free but please pre-register here: https://secure.rec1.com/NJ/hunterdon-county-nj/catalog.

Coming Fall 2023: Hunterdon County’s Climb Out of the Darkness!

Hi everyone! We’re so excited to be back for our third Climb Out of the Darkness in Hunterdon County. This year PSI has designated two official climb weekends, one in the Summer and one in the Fall. This year we decided to change it up and our Climb will be held on October 7th at Mine Brook Park in Flemington, NJ.

Please stay tuned for announcements on how to join this year’s climb, day-of event details, and opportunities to become a volunteer or sponsor!

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