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If you do not take care of yourself, then no one understands that you need to be cared for. No one can read our minds as to what we need. What does self-care really mean? It is like putting on your oxygen mask before you put your child’s oxygen mask on an airplane….
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Hi, my name is Gianna and I have been the teen parenting program intern since August of 2021. I am a Master’s student studying school social work student at Dominican University after graduating with a B.A. in Psychology from Concordia University Chicago in May of 2021. My college experience was anything but average,…
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Motherhood is many things. It is joy, it is laughter, it is sadness, and it can even be resentment, as many mothers feel underappreciated and overworked. It is an experience like no other; it is certainly the hardest job I have ever been given. This week, we take time to honor motherhood in…
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Getting ready for your new role as a mom First of all, with early pregnancy, you may not feel pregnant yet, but your little one or ones are definitely going through major growth and development changes. Therefore, you want to be careful to read books about your new journey of being a parent,…
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Social work chose me at an early age. I was probably “pre-disposed” to being interested in the field of social services as I was adopted soon after birth and was educated by my parents regarding the crucial professionals that helped facilitate that process. My parents also emphasized the importance of the investment of…
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A few things I’ve learned working in the adoption field for the last (almost) 8 years….. -Allyson Stefani, MSW, LSW Adoptive Family and Birthparent Social Worker at Hopeful Beginnings · Birthparents are truly heroes and some of the most selfless people that I’ve ever met. – I believe they don’t get the recognition …
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I have always been a bit of a news junky – I feel better being informed about the status of the world. I enjoy politics (or rather am enthralled by them) and watching the news just makes me feel a bit smarter. However, as my children have grown and have come to understand…
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One of the biggest draws for me personally to the work being done at Hopeful Beginnings is the amazing service of free counseling for mothers experiencing post-partum depression and difficulty transitioning to motherhood. Those that know me undoubtedly know that I am a mother to three very active young boys and the road…
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Considerations for Used Baby Items During pregnancy, it is very easy for an expectant mom to feel overwhelmed by all of the options and the expenses for baby items. A mom might wonder how she is going to afford the items or what items might work well even if they have been…
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When I first announced that I was taking the Executive Director job here at Hopeful Beginnings one of the first questions I was asked was if we provided counseling for woman experiencing fertility issues. The answer to this question is not straightforward. No, we do not offer counseling specifically for infertility, but we…
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