From the time I was a preschooler, I have loved caring for little ones. 

First I helped with my younger brothers, then children of family friends.  

As a teen, I babysat, and while in college, taught at a daycare. 

Then came nanny positions, which allowed me to travel. 

Finally, I worked as a tech and, after completing my degree, as a registered nurse at Blank Children's Hospital. 

After several years of marriage, my husband and I were blessed with a daughter, and I couldn't have been happier.

 

But everything is different when the child is your own. 

 

Previously considered calm and unflappable where children were concerned, I was now exhausted, anxious, and certainly not objective.  

One day my beautiful, healthy, newborn daughter was crying...and I wasn’t far behind.   

As I struggled yet again to correctly latch her on to breastfeed, both of us overwhelmed, I realized this: 

if simply caring for myself and one tiny newborn could be this challenging for me, it must also be challenging for many others.

I also remembered that where I grew up, visiting nurses came to every new mother and family, several times, and just checked in to see that everything was going well at home.  Sounded like a lovely idea, now that I was the new mum in town.

 

Weeks went by, and motherhood became a bit less overwhelming, at least most of the time.  And, with time, chances came to help encourage and support other new mums.  

I loved every chance! 

I began attending annual breastfeeding conferences for my nursing continuing education, and soon earned my breastfeeding educator certification. 

I learned more and more about babywearing and was soon passionate about carrying our precious babies safely and comfortably.  When educators from the longstanding ClauWi babywearing school in Germany came to help teach the very first U.S. babywearing educator course, I was honored to learn from two amazing women...and my family came with me, all the way to Utah.  One year later, my family patiently returned with me to Utah, again, as I received continuing education from the Babywearing Institute,

the U.S. pioneer in advancing the art and science of babywearing, always focused on research and evidence-based education.

 

Our little ones are now almost 2, 4, and 6. 

They keep me so busy, and I am so blessed.

 

So that's the story.  When I am not caring for my own precious family, I can't think of anything better than helping new mums and families begin their journeys together brightly.