Tacoma Postpartum Connection Walks!
We are building a village, a network of parents who hold space for each other and share their wisdom with each other…and you are invited!
I started these walks as a practice towards my eventual perinatal therapy practice, but mostly, it is a way for parents near the Tacoma area to connect with other parents, be out in nature exploring the wonderful trails we have available in Washington State, and letting the kids run and explore to blow off steam before naptime.
A few blogs back I mention my experiences with my own postpartum mood disorders (OCD, Anxiety) and how I got through those times, but I don’t think I mentioned my experiences with Hike it Baby. Hike it Baby is a national org that at one time was free and specifically for parents hiking with kids. The amazing thing about HIB was it got me outside when I was struggling to find normalcy and get my groove as a mother and introduced me to parents in my community I would not have met otherwise.
The not amazing thing was the hikes were really challenging for the most part and then they started charging to take part in and lead hikes, which I regularly did. I still continued to hike and be in nature up until my Osteoarthrtis developed in 2020.
Regardless, HIB had a beautiful framework for connecting parents in a kid centered, body friendly way. When the only spaces we can chat about parenting or share tips are not places that are kid friendly or baby centered, we limit how often we can actually get those resources.
These walks are for the whole family, but also are encouraged to attend alone if you happen to have the space and time, as a walk with children and a walk without both have different gifts we bring home in them.
Postpartum Connection Walks Timeline
Arrival and check in/topic announcement
Short/medium walk on a predetermined safe trail
Snack/lunch
Group sharing/processing
Introspective writing time
Walk back to trailhead as group
If you would like to follow along for these walks and other community postpartum offerings please join the facebook group Intentional Postpartum Facebook Group! Or reach out as always through the contact form on my page for more information on how to take part.
