In "'Yankelovich Monitor Minute" magazine, May 2008
Article: "Beta Moms"
Significant Self Life Coaching helps moms with small children hold onto themselves without shortchanging their kids. The coaching is for moms who can admit that motherhood is a challenge and are ready to give up an idealized version of motherhood. According to Life Coach Claudia Heilbrunn, "In order to be a great mom, you must take care of yourself and satisfy your own needs."
Click here to read the entire article!
In "Mom & Baby" magazine, Spring 2006
Article: "New Mom’s Handbook: 7 Simple Ways to Make the First Months Easier," by Nicole Gregory
2. Ask for the help you need
After your baby is born, family, friends, and neighbors will probably
ask, "What can I do to help?" Give them specific jobs, such as washing
the dishes, bringing over a meal or watching the baby for an hour while
you take a nap. If you’re still overwhelmed, ask your husband to help
out more, but really let him help. "You have to accept being a little
uncomfortable if he does things differently than you do and not jump
in and try to take over," says Claudia Heilbrunn, a certified life coach
in New York who specializes in helping new mothers.
When the relatives have all gone home and your husband returns to work, you need to make a new effort to get help--and avoid becoming isolated. "Isolation is a primary reason new mothers start feeling unhappy," Heilbrunn says. "I recommend joining a mother’s group or the La Leche League, or you can start your own play group with some other new moms."
3. Take time for yourself
Mothers need at least 15 minutes a day to just sit quietly and acknowledge
what they’re feeling, says Heilbrunn, who has a website, significantself.com,
for new mothers. In the first weeks, your baby will nap and breastfeed
sporadically throughout the day, so you’ll need to seize moments of
quiet whenever you find them. But between 2 and 5 months, most babies
fall into a pattern of taking just two naps daily. These are your chances
to rest and reflect. You might also want to hire a sitter for and hour
or two. "If you’re too nervous to leave the house without the baby,
hire someone to watch him while you take a bath, "Heilbrunn says. "Sit
with your feelings and allow them to guide you to what you need to feel
better."
Quoted in "Parenting" magazine, February 2006
The Other Side of Yelling
"I am a life coach for first-time moms and have seen many women thrive
when they’re able to let go of glorified notions of motherhood and embrace
both the good moments and the imperfect ones."
