I was invited to write the OC Family magazine annual cover story about the top interesting picks of inspired moms in Orange County.
I really loved getting to meet and learn about each woman. I was awarded an awesome opportunity to tell each mother’s story in a way that would then inspire other moms in the county.
After writing two articles for the OC Family newspaper section, I was contracted to be a monthly columnist for the magazine. My column on the 0-2 age range began in January 2014. The columns are similar to stories – in that I find and interview appropriate sources — and are a column in the sense that I develop the editorial content and schedule.
January 2014: Keeping cherished memories (Modern ways of preserving memories of your child’s firsts)
February 2014: Food for thought (What vitamins and minerals are most important for pregnant or breastfeeding moms)
March 2014: Baby talk (The latest research and advice on nurturing your baby’s language development)
April 2014: That baby looks great on you (The how’s and why’s of baby wearing)
May 2014: Picture this, baby (A round-up of professional photographer tips on capturing the spirit of your little one best in a photo)
June 2014: Eat well, baby (A nutrition and healthy eating habits guide for babies and toddlers)
July 2014: The 411 on baby troubles (A guide on baby health problems)
August 2014: ‘Please sleep through the night’ (Information and tips on baby sleep)
September 2014: Essential decisions (When to stay at home, go to the doctor, drive to the hospital or call 911)
October 2014: Ding, ding ding! It’s time for dinner! (The importance of family dinners and how to make it happen in today’s busy families)
November 2014: Make the season bright (Helpful information for families on how to reduce stress during the holidays)
December 2014: Child’s play (A gift guide based on a tot’s developing skill set)
January 2015: New Year’s resolutions for new parents (Seven pledges for new parents so they can lead a healthier, happier life as mom or dad)
February 2015: Hoping for a miracle (Encouraging stories from families of babies born with rare illnesses)
March 2015: Leaving your child in good hands (Best practices for choosing the right care for your child)
April 2015: Early detection is key (Conditions and other things to watch for in a child’s first year)
May 2015: Beyond the baby blues (A really important story to me when I’ve had friends who have suffered from postpartum issues)
I was chosen to write the January OC Family magazine cover story. My mission: to tell the birth stories of three Orange County women. One woman gave birth in a pool in a birthing center, another in a hospital using an epidural and another in a hospital attempting a natural labor that turned into a cesarian delivery.
I loved listening to the stories of these women. Giving birth is certainly not a new practice – but still, every single delivery is a miracle. Even for the same woman each labor is unique and beautiful on its own.
In this story, I set out to not compare and contrast each different labor. I instead worked to tell each woman’s story on its own. I then included statistics and history of different labor forms and developments.
Link: Parents can sometimes share too much information
In this informative column for the OC Family section of the Orange County Register I tackle a sensitive topic: what parents do and do no post about their children online. I interviewed mothers at the ends of the spectrum to explain why they either post all the time or not at all.
And beyond anecdotes, I shared information on the main things to be wary of when posting information about one’s child online.
I was asked to write about how motherhood has changed over the past 100 years. I first tackled the topic by thinking of the main themes: technology, family structures, jobs, communities and the state of the country.
I read stories autobiographical stories on how mothering has changed and I reviewed statistical information collected by the Census and federal agencies. My main subjects were a mother, her mother and her grandmother who I found by contacting local moms organizations.