Thinking Outside the Box

When envisioning the perfect location of my first Day Village, I initially thought that I would move from South Florida back to North Carolina where some of my family lives.  But when I released my vision from the "perfect box" in which it resided in my mind, and began to be open to new possibilities, the Universe answered in an unexpected way!  Although I should have expected it... After all, I was the one putting my belief and thoughts out there!

When I connected with Sara Green from The Soma Center and my long-time Mama friend, Andrea Nison, and we began to brainstorm ways to get the Day Village started, we all realized that "Let's Do It Now!" was what our hearts were shouting!  And so the "where" became literally right here in South Florida where we were all currently living!

Thanks to Sara's connection with The Soma Center, we had an "easy in" with the owners.  Our start-up location is a beautiful historical home that's been converted into a cafe and yoga studio in downtown Lake Worth.  The cafe serves organic raw vegan food, bringing in our desire for us as "the village people" to be partaking in nutritious & delicious cuisine together!  The yoga studio is a newly renovated stand-alone building that provides a beautiful and peaceful space for our yoga practice.  We alternate which moms attend, while the other moms care for all the babies, usually going on a walk together, so that everybody is receiving the benefit of exercise!  It's a wonderful trade-off and gift that we give to one another.

When the yoga studio is not in use for yoga classes every afternoon, we gather there for a safe place for our children to play while we Moms create our eco-friendly crafts that eventually will be up for sale.  We will soon be helping to support our families financially through our work together in our Day Village.  It's a wonderful feeling knowing that we do not have to choose between going to work and being with our children, because now we can do both in our Day Village!!!  And it truly has been feeling like a village with lots of support and love for one another!  I am grateful to see my vision unfolding!

Andrea Nison helping Baby Noa             Sara Green supporting Baby Ellie's

with her breath using the yoga                hips so she can do a headstand

ball that expands and contracts.                         during Kids Yoga class.

The Inspiration & Vision Behind the Day Village

One of the most important aspects of mothering for me so far has been to live out the Continuum Concept, as described in Jean Liedloff's book.  I finished reading her book just a few weeks before I heard her interview on the Raw Mom Summit!  I instantly knew that I wanted to put into practice the "Continuum Concept," especially giving my baby the adequate time to be "in arms" before he became more independent through crawling and eventually walking.  I have found it challenging in American culture, since the concept is based on a mother-baby-village relationship.  Most Americans are not living in villages, but rather in isolated single-family units.  Without having someone near by all the time whom I could pass my baby to when I need a break, makes carrying my baby around a bit tiring at times.  But I have realized that I can only do the best that I can do!  Beyond the "in arms" aspect of the "Continuum Concept," is the need for the mother to be in her continuum of being amongst her peers, contributing to her community.  I know that for me, being home alone with my baby is isolating and sometimes even depressing.  It is much easier for me emotionally to get through my day when I am with other moms and children!

Having a great desire to live out the "Continuum Concept" and be with my baby while also being with other women working to contribute financially to our families has been the inspiration to my latest vision of starting a "Day Village."  And so I am bringing together like-minded Mamas with their babies and children to go through our day together.  Eventually I want to plant a garden together that would provide food for us to eat a living foods diet, as well as to sell to the community as a co-op.  Furthermore, I would like us each to develop a "craft" that we can enjoy the process of creating, that we can sell.  My ideas are to make earth-friendly products that serve a purpose to help Moms, children, and families live a natural and healthy life.  Additionally, I want the women in the village to share with each other as well as offer workshops to the community, teaching methods and tips that we have learned to help each other in the journey of natural and conscious mothering. The point is to be TOGETHER during the day, so we can support each other as mothers, help each other with our babies, and be productive in ways that add income to our families!  And at the end of the day, we go home to our husbands, partners, and families feeling happier and healthier because we are living in the continuum!!!