I can still clearly remember sitting in the new moms group that I participated in when my daughter was first born, now nearly 15 years ago. I remember sharing my birth story and describing how my hopes of having an intervention-free birth were dashed when I developed HELLP syndrome (preeclampsia with its usual suspects of…
Linda Szmulewitz is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Certified Gentle Sleep Coach. For the past 10 years, she has worked with moms and families in a dual setting through her new moms educational and supportive program, The Chicago New Moms Group, and her work as a sleep consultant and owner of Sleep Tight Consultants. In her role as a group facilitator and sleep consultant, she ushers new families through two very profound life experiences: adjustment to major life transition and resolution of sleepless nights for both parents and children. Linda is driven to support families at their most vulnerable moments in order to empower them to develop the tools necessary to enter parenthood feeling strong and knowledgeable and maintain healthy roles as parents. Without adequate support, moms often turn to the wide range of conflicting advice found on the internet or sometimes judgmental friends and family. She always strives to work in conjunction with moms and families to meet their goals in order to support the functioning of the entire family.
Being Real and Nonjudgmental as a Mother: Why Sharing Your True Feelings is Critical to Your Health and Wellbeing
Many years ago, when my daughter was about 2 years old, and I was at home during the endless hours of toddlerhood, I remember talking on the phone to my first friend to have children. Not only was she about 4 years ahead of me in the parenthood journey, but she was one very wise…
Why Do I Help Parents Teach Their Children How to Sleep?
In the parenting community, there are a number of, what I think of as, “hot button topics.” Whether or not to vaccinate or circumcise your children, should your child wear a puffy coat in their car seat, should or shouldn’t you breastfeed and for how long, and whether or not to sleep train your child.…
Building Community As a New Mother
Over 13 years ago, I was a new mom. Still, to this day, I remember the intense feelings of being overwhelmed and scared. I remember feeling clueless and kind of crazy as I fumbled through the days trying to figure out what my VERY tiny newborn (my daughter was 5 pounds when she was born)…
