Restore Her - by Laura Brown

Hey ladies! I am so excited by the response and generosity already shown through the Restore Her drive LWB has been doing. As many of you have seen, we are gathering items needed for the little girls house at the Restore Her program out at Still Creek Ranch.

I wanted to share just a little bit more information about what the program is all about and why it’s such a great cause to support.

Still Creek Ranch is a place for children (both boys and girls) who basically need to be rescued out of a crisis environment. The circumstances of each individual’s past differ but include things like severe abuse, severe neglect or abandonment, sexual abuse, or even sex trafficking. The ages they take are between 5 and 17. Still Creek Ranch is different from places like Residential Treatment Facilities (who shelter foster children temporarily) because Still Creek Ranch does not accept any government funding and additionally provides a long term home for the children they take in. The ranch provides a home environment for the children who live in homes with two permanent parental figures (a house mom and dad). There is a school onsite that the children attend, and they are involved in a lot of agricultural, equestrian, and athletic programs as well as routine counseling. As students graduate from high school they are given scholarships and lots of transition help to get an education and secure a positive future. Many of the former participants come back to the ranch to help and motivate those still in the program.

Restore Her is a specific program at the ranch that is for girls who have been victims of sexual abuse and/or sex trafficking. The girls are split into two houses-one for the little girls, and one for the older girls. Our mission, is to help out the little girls house, which is older and just needs some new stuff! Again, Still Creek Ranch doesn’t take any government funding and thus they rely solely on the generosity of people who believe that their mission is worthwhile. If you join the event and look at the spreadsheet of things that the house mom said she needs, you’ll see things needed from razors, to softball gloves, etc. The information on the spreadsheet shows you how you can ship items directly to the site! Please, please, don’t be tricked into thinking that what you can afford to give is too insignificant to make a difference. If you have $5 to give, then that is something that can make an impact! Some of the items are larger, and the event page is a great hub for people to discuss pitching in money to get some of the bigger stuff!

It is, of course, easy to condemn sexual abuse and trafficking, but more important than condemning is doing what we can do to support programs that work to stop it. We can come together and each give what we can and we can make a huge difference for the lives of these girls and their wonderful house parents!

Here’s the link to join the event on facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1122251017792489/

Please feel free to contact me, Laura Brown, with any questions!

Gym Daycare- By Alexia

When it comes to working out, I go through phases. I always feel better when I have a regular workout routine, but life has ebbs and flows, and therefore so does my routine.

Enter baby. Exit workout routine. And even after I was cleared to resume physical exertion beyond walking, I was still running on very little sleep and learning how to take care of a very tiny human. And I just didn’t have the courage to use the gym day care.

Since we were now a family of 3, my in-laws offered to buy us a membership to our local YMCA. We didn’t take them up on it for a while, but by the time Jack was about 9 months old I was really itching to get back into it. So we signed up and I promised myself I’d make every effort to go 2-4 times each week.

Even though Jack was now 9 months old, I was still a bit timid about putting him in daycare at the Y. I have left him other places many times, but it has always been either with family, or at a place where I can take time to talk to the caregivers, get to know them, and even watch him play for a bit. It doesn’t work this way at the Y. When I drop Jack off at the Y, I have to pass him over to the sweet girl at the Child Watch front desk, and she takes him back to the infant area. Granted, I can see through the window to that area, but I don’t get to talk to his caregivers or interact with him in that space. Maybe I’m overprotective, but that made me a little nervous.

The first several days when I picked Jack up he was visibly upset and crying. The second day I was even asked to come and get him because they weren’t able to console him. I was disappointed, sure, but decided to keep trying so that he would have an opportunity to learn to be away from me and become comfortable with new people in a new environment.

We continued to go to the Y about 3 times a week and each time Jack got a little bit better. After just a few weeks I could see that he was playing when I went to pick him up, and he was even smiling and laughing when they passed him back to me. I also learned a few things about what I can do to help Jack have a good time when I leave him with other caregivers.

1. Have a well rested baby! I always go to the gym mid morning after Jack’s first nap. His first nap is often not that great, but at least he has had something. I don’t suggest going later and rushing home just before nap time. That risks having your baby become more upset about being without you the closer it gets to nap time.

2. Have a well fed baby! When Jack wakes up from his first nap, he gets some milk and snacks. That way when I drop him off, I know he has a full tummy (or as full as he would allow it to get!). I also send him with snacks just in case he decides he wants more while I’m working out. This ensures there are no tears due to a hungry baby!

3. Use the paci/lovey! If your baby takes a paci, make sure they have it, or whatever lovey or comfort item they prefer. Jack only gets his paci at sleep times, but I found it to also be helpful when he’s separated from me. The days I’ve forgotten it tend to be the days he’s upset when I pick him up. As he gets older and drops the paci, I’ll make sure he has some favorite toy or lovey to take with him if it’s still needed - and I’ll buy a backup just in case!

4. Keep Trying! Like I said, the first few times Jack stayed in the day care at the gym, he didn’t like it. But the more we go, the more he gets used to it. And now he even has a lot of fun!

For those of you who have hesitated to return to the gym with your baby, I hope this give you some encouragement. It can be intimidating to leave your baby with the gym childcare staff, but it is so worth it to get your own time to do something for yourself!

-Alexia Estes