I was a music teacher in the public schools for 7 years before I got pregnant with my son. Soon after getting pregnant, I was injured and had to stop teaching. So, I took the opportunity to look for a remote job so that I could stay home with my son. I worked in a nonprofit while home with my son for the first 3 years, and now I am working toward supporting birthing people as a doula and childbirth educator!
I felt called to birth work after having my son and noticing the lack of community for birthing people. Many of us don't have the village people once did, and becoming a parent has been the greatest and most challenging part of my life thus far. I decided that I wanted to be the support people would need before, during, and after birth, because every birthing person deserves to feel supported.
When not working, I love baking, doing yoga/pilates, hiking, kayaking, swimming, shopping, and going to the beach...my happy place. I also play in a saxophone quartet with my husband and two other friends we met at the Hartt school. I live in CT with my husband (Andrew), son (M), and two rescued hound mixes (Harpo and Junebug).
If you would like to read my birth story, click here.
I chose mermaids to represent my business for three important reasons:
Mermaids are the wise, strong, feminine creatures of the ocean. This is the lens through which I view birthing people. Oftentimes, contractions in labor are compared to waves, so, being an ocean-lover, I love that connection.
One of my best friends, Vicky, passed a few years back, and she absolutely loved mermaids; they were her "spirit animal" in her fight against cancer. My logo is modeled after the tattoo I got in her honor after she passed away. It symbolizes her love of mermaids, and our love of yoga (the mermaid is in the Mermaid pose).
I am a big proponent of inclusivity in all its forms. Mermaids are very different beings from other "typical" sea creatures. Like mermaids, most of us have some part of us defined by society as "different," although it may not be as obvious as a mermaid's differences. I want everyone who needs care to know that they will be welcomed here.