Choice Moms LLC
September 29, 2012
Daring Greatly: Choice Moms Taking Center Stage   
We've made it as a card category!

One aspect of running the Choice Mom workshops and ChoiceMoms.org website is the privilege of knowing the stories of thousands of single women. At our Austin, Texas, event a few weeks ago, for example, we had a fantastic conversation about the emotions of this journey, our Type A stress, and the concept of dating (our e-guides from this year's events will be online in October). 

 

We also began discussing how to expand awareness of Choice Moms resources so that more single women can Think and Try while they are still young enough to avoid the regrets and stress many women report later in the process.

 

To that end, I'm happy to announce a new "reality show" option a producer has discussed with me that would put, to start, Los Angeles Choice Moms in a spotlight. [This is different than a pitch that came in a few weeks ago for something more akin to "Sex in the City."] We are looking for candidates in the L.A. area who are starting the process or trying for two. You can read more about it here.

 

And a documentarian in France has been in touch. In her country, Choice Motherhood is not allowed, and she's trying to help open up the discussion to change that. She's looking for Choice Moms in the early stages -- including any using a surrogate -- who would be willing to spend time with her in front of a camera in October. She'll travel anywhere.

 

Meet Us for Dinner in Long Beach, California, October 20!  

Registration is open for conversation and early dinner at McKenna's restaurant in Orange County for women at any stage of the Choice Mom journey (space for a few Choice Kids as well). Choice Mom Carla Pedrussian will be on hand as well, representing sponsor California Cryobank, with a free vial of sperm to raffle off.

 

I'm also looking for women interested in meeting at a weekend retreat at Earthrise in northern San Francisco in March 2013. Send an email to info @ choicemoms.org to express your interest.

 

Use the EVENTS tab at ChoiceMoms.org to find up-to-date information.

"The Invitation" Blog Series    

I wrapped up a recent blog series about nine angles of single motherhood, inspired by my read of Oriah Mountain Dreamer's "The Invitation" book in August. If you missed some of it, here is the full list. In October I'll be writing about some interesting concepts for Choice Moms from Brene Brown's "Daring Greatly" book.

 

Part 1: The Invitation

Part 2: Can mothers have longings?
Part 3: Intimacy? What's that?
Part 4: Can you make change happen?
Part 5: Being in love with life: examining a week 

Part 6: What holds us in place?

Part 7: Are you a good student and a tired woman?

Part 8: Letting emotions spill out

Part 9: Shedding the numbness veil

 

I also launched my "Having It All as a Single Mom" blog at the Working Mother website.

Also New on ChoiceMoms.org   

 

Legal: Reproduction and the Law

 

Q&A: Should I take a break? (see the update on her story in Comments)

 

Profile: Erika is going through the Red Doors

 

 

Highlights: Choice Mom Resources

(if these links don't work for you, use the Search box on the website for these titles)

 

Directory: Choice Mom-friendly fertility clinics 

 

Five Myths About Choice Motherhood  

 

Support from city to city

 

The Choice Chat podcast is a great tool for hearing from experts and fellow moms; this post will lead you to all of them (http://www.choicemoms.org/blog/226/what_choice_moms_are_listening_to)

 

Storybook for Children: "I Felt You Flutter in My Heart," illustrated by six Choice Kids, and the perfect size for young fingers. A simple and bright story about how much we love them. 

  

Our New E-guide Series
I talked about the Choice Mom E-Guide to Home Insemination -- downloaded by more than 500 women in its first month -- in an interview with Dawn Davenport of the "Creating a Family" radio show, which included great insights from a doctor about donor insemination, at home and in a clinic. 
  • Next up, regional guides: "So you want to be a Choice Mom in..." for D.C., New York City, Chicago and many more.
Talking Amongst Ourselves   
We are testing out our new discussion space on Big Tent. I will offer more details here next time. In the meantime, these spaces are still welcoming members:

 

(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.