Greetings! 
Welcome to 2012! Every year we reflect on the year that has past and envision what the coming year will bring. At times the blessings of the past year stand out, and for others the pain is all that can be seen. But each new year holds the promise of healing, growth and new joy. We've enjoyed being a resource for mothers and families for 37 years and look forward to more opportunities to be a resource to you and your family.
Here are a few articles we thought you would enjoy to kick off 2012.
Let us know how we can serve you and your family in 2012. Best wishes,
Linda Lisi Juergens
Executive Director
516 939-MOMS X101
The National Association of Mothers' Centers (NAMC) provides programs that empower mothers, fathers and caregivers to find solutions that work for their families, their work lives and their personal lives.
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 Happy 37th Birthday NAMC!
 | | Patsy Turrini & Lorri Slepian |
On January 25, 1975 the first Mothers' Center opened its doors in Hicksville, NY. (It's interesting to note that Hicksville was named for the Hicks Family, whose historic home in Jericho NY is currently occupied by the national office of the NAMC!)
In 1975, you could buy a gallon of regular gas for 57 cents and a really nice new home in the suburbs of NYC for $37,000. The couple that bought that house was probably married, but the wife's income could not be used in calculating how large a mortgage they would qualify for. When the wife gave birth, her older child was not permitted to visit her or the new baby in the hospital. In vitro fertilization was not available and having a caesarian section meant staying in the hospital for five to seven days.
The journey began back in 1973, when a Long Island social worker named Patsy Turrini conducted a research study to examine mothers' experiences in pregnancy, childbirth, adoption and child rearing.
The research was conducted in discussion groups where women told the truth to each other about their experiences of mothering and learned from each other. The groups were also focused on researching the needs of mothers and finding a way to make a difference in their community and beyond.
What was th e magic in those groups that made it such a life-changing experience? The women were made to feel safe in a supportive environment. They were listened to respectfully and given the time to reflect on their parenting. They became more confident about their choices in raising their children. They learned parenting strategies and realized they had much in common -- the worries, the joys, the isolation, the veering from confidence to insecurity to confidence once again. They realized they were really not crazy after all.
Seventeen of these research participants went on to open the first Mothers' Center in 1975. They planned for almost a year, along with a few social workers including Patsy Turrini who created the research project, and Lorri Slepian who is still involved as a board member today. Another founding member and the editor of the original Mothers' Center manual, The Honorable Hope Zimmerman, is also still a board member of the NAMC. Their efforts to recreate this magic through Mothers' Center groups has impacted thousands upon thousands of families by providing mothers with the same support they found. Mothers' Center members to this day continue this great legacy for each other.
In 2012, the NAMC's programs have grown with the times and are also virtual (webinars and blogs) and address postpartum, work/life and advocacy issues, among others. But that's a story for another time.
Let's celebrate this wonderful accomplishment!
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NAMC Staff Picks
Do you have a favorite blog post that appeals to your experience as a mother? We do and we want to share them with you. Here is a glimpse of what we've read lately that strikes a chord for us.
- Linda Lisi Juergens: Please Quit Your Diet, Now
- Lisa Kaplan-Miller: What Motherhood Isn't
- Kate Fineske: This is as Good as it's Going to Get
- Valerie Young: Four easy steps to a better week, post-holidays
- Catherine Wright: The Bitch is Back
- Kristel Lazarus: Girls are Like Apples...
- Ellen Kramer: Hindsight
- Viviana Russell: If You Could Go Back to Before Your First Baby, What Would You Tell Yourself?
To read these posts, check out the MC Voices page of Mothers Central.
And be sure to check out this week's NAMC birthday post on Thursday!
Do You Have a Blog?
If you do, make sure to submit a request via the MC Voices* page. If it's approved it will be added to our blog directory! It is FREE for NAMC members!
*All blog submissions subject to NAMC approval first. |
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Hands On Research 
What can convey love, gratitude
and compassion? What has been shown to help preterm newborns gain 47 percent more weight? What reduces pain in pregnant women and alleviates prenatal depression-in
the women and their spouses alike? What may help infants grow up to be calmer and
more resilient to stress, with a stronger immune system? What can build up cooperative relationships? What can calm cardiovascular stress and trigger release of oxytocin,
aka "the love hormone?" What can even promote trust and generosity?
The simple and perhaps surprising answer is touch. Research is suggesting that touch is truly fundamental to human communication, bonding, and health. Read the whole article at the Daily Good.
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Stay-at-Home Mothers Call for Papers
Demeter Press is seeking submissions for an edited collection, Stay at Home Mothers: An International Perspective.
Stay at home mothers and the 'mommy wars' are a continuing phenomenon worldwide. This book will be the first international edited collection exploring debates and issues surrounding mothers returning to/staying at home from a variety of countries and perspectives. Click here to learn more.
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Your Gift Makes a Difference for Families Mothers' Centers have helped thousands of families: - Make friends
- Learn from each other
- Find needed support
- Advocating for our children's needs
- Discover valuable resources
- Find creative ways to manage work and family responsibilities
- And so much more!
We can't do it without your support. Please consider making a tax-deductable donation to the National Association of Mothers' Centers today. Thank you for making a difference! |
