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by Paul
Almost eight years ago, my office phone rang and after he asked me if I was sitting down, my partner said through a rush of tears "we are getting a baby." I'll call anyone a liar who says that hearing those words for the first time isn't the most mind-bending, fear-inducing, stomach-falls-to-floor-then-heart-bursts-out-of-your-chest moment of sheer panic coupled with pure joy they've ever experienced. Your life, at that moment, changes forever. Seriously. YOU WILL NEVER BE THE SAME, and best of all (not really), you don't have any concept of exactly what lies ahead. You might think you do, but you don't.
Cheryl (CEO of The Pump Station & Nurtury™) has asked me to write about the experience we had all those years ago, and how being a part of a group of guys who were also going through the same experience might have helped us. There certainly wasn't any such group, and while we were far from being "trailblazers" as gay dads, we didn't know anyone else who had done this. We were living in Phoenix at the time. No need to say much more, right? So, in spite of the fact that we were both pretty spoiled and self-centered, we somehow managed to survive those first months, and today we have a happy, healthy, thriving almost-8 year old second-grader, who doesn't flinch or bat an eye about the fact that his family looks different from the families of some of his friends. I think we've done ok so far.
We survived those early days because, well, we had no other choice. We signed up to be parents. There's no "opt out" button on this process. You're in. All in. Forever. So, because we are both reasonably intelligent, we both have a fair amount of patience, we're supportive of each other, and we had lightning-fast google capabilities, we managed to get through infanthood without any huge crises.... Click here to read more...
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 My Daddies & Me
Please join us at The Pump Station and Nurtury™ in Hollywood for our very first session of "My Daddies and Me"! The class will meet on Mondays from 5:00-6:30 p.m. for an eight week session starting on Monday, April 28th. First session is for babies born between October, 2013-February, 2014 with Beth Weisnman, MA.
Please email Norma@pumpstation.com with your child's name, birth date, and your phone number. Feel free to contact her if you have any questions. If your little one doesn't fit but you're interested in a class, please let us know.
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Upcoming Classes in Santa Monica
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with Richard Greenberg
of Common Sense Dad
March 26th at 7pm
ONLY $10!
 This course will be based on the 5 "SMART" principles defined in Greenberg's book: "Raising Children That Other People Like to be Around." Those principles are: - Set an Example
- Make The Rules
- Apply the Rules
- Respect Yourself
- Teach in all things
The presentation explores each principle and encourages parents to understand that they are responsible for their children's behavior, while showing them where they can find the resources within their own life experience to be confident, loving parents. The class addresses the importance of positive reinforcement and encourages parents to see themselves as leaders in their everyday relationships with their children. Click here for more info or call 310-998-1981 to register.
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Upcoming Classes in Hollywood
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with Nahal A. Papehn, MA, SLP-CCC
March 29th at 3pm
For babies 6-15 months old
 "Coo's, Babble, and Talk" teaches parents how to communicate with their little ones by introducing language comprehension and expression through play, while also offering the opportunity for caregivers to ask questions and try hands-on techniques that will get their children 'talking.' As the child enters 3-6 months of age, language and communication skills taught through play are essential for their overall cognitive development and important to nurture daily through songs, toys, talking, and basic baby sign language. This in turn will help prevent speech and language delays by the time they enter preschool and elementary school. Practicing these simple techniques goes a long way in our little one's speech and language development!
Your baby discovers language through YOU - first through coo's, then babbling, and eventually (through play and lots of modeling) will begin to 'talk.' "Coos, Babble, and Talk" offers you everyday techniques on how to model age appropriate language, have fun with babbling, take turns 'talking,' and how to 'wait' for language. Through this class, parents will learn a variety of important ways to enhance speech and language development. We will be learning about how to introduce front, middle, and back sounds to our little ones, teach our little ones how to coordinate movement with their tongue, lips, and jaw, teach appropriate prosody in a "fun" way, and help increase our little one's vocabulary in order to become good verbal communicators in the future.
**Please bring your child's favorite toy(s), rattle(s), and/or a stuffed animal(s). Click here for more info or call 323-469-5300 to register.
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Upcoming Classes in Westlake Village
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with Nahal A. Papehn, MA, SLP-CCC
March 28th at 1pm
For babies 6-15 months old
"Coo's, Babble, and Talk" teaches parents how to communicate with their little ones by introducing language comprehension and expression through play, while also offering the opportunity for caregivers to ask questions and try hands-on techniques that will get their children 'talking.' As the child enters 3-6 months of age, language and communication skills taught through play are essential for their overall cognitive development and important to nurture daily through songs, toys, talking, and basic baby sign language. This in turn will help prevent speech and language delays by the time they enter preschool and elementary school. Practicing these simple techniques goes a long way in our little one's speech and language development! Your baby discovers language through YOU - first through coo's, then babbling, and eventually (through play and lots of modeling) will begin to 'talk.' "Coos, Babble, and Talk" offers you everyday techniques on how to model age appropriate language, have fun with babbling, take turns 'talking,' and how to 'wait' for language. Through this class, parents will learn a variety of important ways to enhance speech and language development. We will be learning about how to introduce front, middle, and back sounds to our little ones, teach our little ones how to coordinate movement with their tongue, lips, and jaw, teach appropriate prosody in a "fun" way, and help increase our little one's vocabulary in order to become good verbal communicators in the future. **Please bring your child's favorite toy(s), rattle(s), and/or a stuffed animal(s). Click here for more info or call 805-777-7179 to register.
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Sponsors & Advertising
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Want to advertise here?
to request information.
*Our newsletter content is separate from our advertising. All paid ads are listed under "Sponsors".
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In Santa Monica:- Apr 10 10am - 6pm
- Apr 27 11am - 5pm
- May 15 10am - 6pm
- May 25 11am - 5pm
In Hollywood:In Westlake:Click here for more info and future dates.
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at The Pump Station
Locations | | |
In Santa Monica:
- Mar 30th 11am-4pm
- April 4th 10am-4pm
In Hollywood:
In Westlake Village:
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| MomAngeles Perks Card | |
Hey Moms! Check out the Perks Card from MomAngeles that gets you "perks" with businesses throughout LA... like here at
The Pump Station & Nurtury! Cards are on sale right now for $35 and you can save $100's of dollars a year. Click here to see a complete list of participating businesses.
Show your Perks Card at The Pump Station & Nurtury and get 10% off all Toys and Children's Books.
*Cannot be combined with any other offer.
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Complimentary SoulCycle classes for our Pump Station Moms!
Calling All Mommies!
There's nothing more invigorating than getting ready for the Spring feeling healthy and inspired. And for a little bit of extra motivation, SoulCycle welcomes The Pump Station!
The Pump Station & Nurtury™ moms will receive complimentary SoulCycle classes at SoulCycle Beverly Hills and SoulCycle Santa Monica through the end of April. Class and shoe rental...
Click here for more info... |
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Wednesday, March 26, 10:30am
At the Play Destination
28501 Canwood St, Suite 3E
Agoura Hills, CA 91301
Tickets: $18/parent+child, $10/additional siblings
 Okay, mamas: New mamas, semi-new mamas, about-to-be-new mamas, this is for you. We've got the amazing Dr. Jill Campbell on the docket. She's going to shed some light on the twisty-turny changes we all have to make as new moms- emotional upheaval, vulnerability, perfectionism, constant comparisons to other moms... you know. The transitional craziness that happens when you suddenly change from being an independent woman who sleeps at night, to a sleepless creature who spends every waking minute tending to a new little person. That kind of plot twist is bound to mess with your head at least a little bit. Let's talk about that.
We'll be hosting this one in partnership with the lovely ladies at The Pump Station, who are no strangers to the needs and questions of new moms all over the L.A. area. All of this will be held at The Play Destination in Agoura Hills. We'll follow up the mom talk with a mini sensory class, too, so bring the littles, and let's all get a little clarity on this new mommy life. Click here to register.
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NickMom's comedic docu-series "Take Me To Your Mother"
is looking for some fun pregnant moms and toddlers to participate in a SIBLING Class for Season 2.
TMTYM follows comedian and mom Andrea Rosen as she visits with moms from different communities and life experiences seeking advice on how to raise a great kid. Season 2 just premiered on February 1 with the Baltimore Ravens and their wives. Mom should be pregnant, older sibling should be 2 1/2 - 4-years-old.
Monday, March 31 at The Pump Station-Santa Monica
Sibling Class: 11am (please arrive by 10:45am). If you are interested please email adonenfeld@gmail.com
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Wednesday, April 9, 2014 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM(PDT) in Santa Monica, CA
Please join us for our Healthy Pregnancy Educational Workshop + Panel as part of our new Easy Steps: Safer Pregnancy campaign. The two-hour event will welcome parents and mothers-to-be to hear from top experts and personalities in the environmental health and pediatric space, while engaging in a discussion on how they can keep their growing families safe from harmful toxins.
A CONVERSATION WITH:
-Dr. Jay Gordon, MD, FAAP - Nationally Recognized Pediatrician, Author
-Anna Getty - Co-Founder of Pregnancy Awareness Month
-Jenna Elfman - Healthy Child Celebrity Ambassador, Actress, Mother and Children's Healthy Advocate
Welcome and Introduction by Tiffani Thiessen - Healthy Child Celebrity Ambassador, Actress, Mother, Healthy Lifestyle Advocate
*Attendees will take home gift bags featuring safer, healthier products! Click here to Register.
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pottery barn kids Spring Nesting Events at The Grove
Learn About Cribs & Gliders
Sunday, April 13 11am-12pm
Are you looking for a classic crib, or a deluxe one that grows with your child, converting to toddler, then full size bed? An organic crib mattress, or extra foam support? Is your body type better suited to a Swivel Glider, Grand Swivel Glider or Wingback Rocker? We'll have an informative and fun morning learning what fits best with you.
Design a Dream Nursery
Sunday, May 4 11am-12pm
We'll share the elements we use to create our perfect room environments, including furniture, bedding, rugs, window treatments and accessories. Bring your questions, colors and challenges (a room shared by two?) to our design team and get advice about creating your dream nursery or kid's room.
Healthy refreshments and more! Save 10% on same day in-store purchases.
Gift bag with products and coupons from Grove retailers.
RSVP to (323) 549-9344 with number of guests - family & friends welcome!
Pottery Barn Kids, 189 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles 90036
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