Choice Moms LLC
January 4, 2012
Choice Mom Goals for 2012  
The last two years, I have focused on one simple resolution as my mantra. In 2010 it was "simplify my life" -- and I set about decluttering my house, taking on fewer volunteer projects. In 2011, it was "develop new friendship" -- and I managed to revamp my personal network, and start enjoying life outside of Motherhood.
Do I Have a Dad? CD
 
For 2012, my philosophy will be "focus on what is important." Among other things, that will include Choice Mom resources. After ChoiceMoms.org was relaunched in 2009, I set about building an extensive library for women anywhere from the Thinking to Being stages of single motherhood, with podcasts, weekly blog posts, and more. Last year I met hundreds of you at five Choice Mom workshops, and every month I see the topics and issues that concern you most -- what website pages you visit the most, what discussion topics get the most attention.
 
So as I "focus on what is important" in 2012, you will start to see targeted e-books on the topics that interest you most. I welcome collaborators in the effort, as we fine-tune and simplify the way women find information on the website -- gathering the most pertinent tips and comprehensive checklists and resources that we can. Get in touch with me at [email protected] if you would like to be part of my focus group, making changes that will make it easier for Choice Moms worldwide to learn what they need, when they need it, from fellow travelers on this journey. Let's all have a voice this year in reaching out to each other, stepping out proudly, and building and raising amazing families!
  
2012 Workshop Dates and Locations Coming Soon  
As part of this year's focus, I will likely host fewer events in 2012. Last year's five workshops were excellent, but exhausting for me to travel that frequently. I'm sure we'll be back in San Francisco this year, always a favorite -- I welcome collaborators to help me find a suitable location there, perhaps as early as March! Who is interested in a retreat option there, making a weekend of it perhaps in the north? Or Asilomar?
Some of the Choice Kids at our 2011 Toronto event
 
There is also strong interest from Choice Mom community in Baltimore, so that might be a first ever destination for our women in the D.C., Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and other local areas.
 
Where should we head in the South or Midwest?
 
I am firming up details with long-time Choice Mom Networking Event sponsor California Cryobank soon, so get in touch with me this week at [email protected].

New on ChoiceMoms.org   

 

Daddy Story: We'd like to finish our storybook, featuring kid artists, by Valentine's Day, for Choice Moms to read to their kids. We need a few more pieces of spot art from Choice Kids.

 

Sponsor: European Sperm Bank USA, featuring open-identity donors, joins us a ChoiceMoms.org advertiser

 

Commentary: Living the unexpected life

 

News: woman fired for using insemination

 

Thinkers Wanted for TV Show: find the details here about a new Choice Mom series in the making!

 

Q&A: a woman over the age of 40 is looking for inspiration about trying IVF

 

Profile: What I learned from my failed adoption

 

Humor: You know you're charting if....

 

Research: New research on Choice Moms coming

 

 

Highlights: Choice Mom Resources

 

Regional Guides: "So you want to be a Choice Mom in Toronto"

 

Directory: Choice Mom-friendly fertility clinics 

 

E-Guide to Embryo Donation -- especially useful for women whose eggs might not be viable. 

   

Would you like a phone consultation?

 

Fellow Choice Mom bloggers 

 

The Choice Chat podcast is a great tool for hearing from experts and fellow moms; this post will lead you to all of them. 

  

 

Talking Amongst Ourselves   
We have three open discussion boards, with different focuses. (The older Yahoo one is closed to new members as it got too big.) If you're not part of our interactive support community, join us at:

 

(general one, offers specialized topics and stages, from Thinking to Being, just like ChoiceMoms.org)

 

Choice Mom Ning (newest!)
(puts faces to names, especially in certain localized communities)

 

(for the challenges of becoming or being an "older" mom)
 

 

Choice Moms on Twitter: @ChoiceMoms
Visit ChoiceMoms.org for ongoing resources dedicated to connecting and informing the Choice Mom community.