Don't Call Us an Agency

By Cathy Smith

Everyone has a pet peeve. I think it's safe to say that at A Joyful Journey, ours is when people assume we are an agency. Websters definition of an agency is "the capacity, condition, or state of acting or of exerting power :  a person or thing through which power is exerted or an end is achieved". If there is one thing the ladies of A Joyful Journey believe in, it's supporting women.

We support each other. We don't exude power over each other. We are on the same level. Yes I am the founding member of A Joyful Journey. I value the women who are a part of our organization. Without them, our business would not flourish. Our roles sometimes vary but important business decisions we come together on.

We split shifts, raise each other up, fund raise together, create community events together, blog together, expect professionalism out of each other, and yes, make the same amount of money. We bounce ideas off each other, offer to babysit for each other, and enjoy the occasional glass of wine together.

These women are my support group, my tribe, my friends. We are so much more than an agency or an organization. We are a sisterhood.

Breastfeeding & Postpartum Support In Our Community

About 3 1/2 years ago I met a woman and her two sons at a Will County breastfeeding event.  We began chatting and realized that our youngest babies were the same age.  She invited me to a breastfeeding group at our local hospital.  Little did I know that she would become a good friend and this group would become a big part of my life.

When I first began attending this group, it was just the Lactation Consultant Kathy, my friend Karin & myself.  The group soon began to grow.  Karin & I have both become breastfeeding peer counselors at this hospital and are there every Wednesday to support new mothers as well as mothers who have been with us for months.  We have noticed a pattern though.  We will have a wave of 4 or 5 new moms coming every week for the first few months postpartum, then they all head back to work, with a schedule that doesn't allow them to attend the group anymore.

Just this month, I began offering a Breastfeeding & Postpartum Support Group at Nurture The Journey Wellness Studio on the 1st & 3rd Sundays of each month.  I'm hoping that this will be a great source of support for mothers in our community and especially for the moms facing new challenges as they go back to work.  I feel that having a community of mothers supporting each other is not only crucial for the success of breastfeeding, but it's also so important to have this support for ALL mothers during the postpartum period.  Mothers in the U.S. tend to feel isolated and often don't reach out for help, which can and does often lead to baby blues or postpartum depression.

Now, I'm gonna brag a little bit about this amazing group of mothers that are a part of this breastfeeding group.  We don't just see each other for a few hours every Wednesday.  We keep in touch on Facebook.  We have a walking group together, that meets twice a week to go walking.  We have baking parties & play dates together.  These mothers are a great source of support to each other and I'm so proud to be a part of this community of strong women!  I hope you can join us at one of our groups & become part of this amazing community! 

For more information on how we serve our community, please visit us at A Joyful Journey Doula Services.

Lots of Love,
Andrea