Just Ask

advice, ideas & inspiration for families

September, 2014

Baby Sign Language classes ~ Register early ~ Space is limited

Introductory Workshops for those just starting out.

Saturday, Sept. 13 10:30 - 12:00 Blossom Birth Services, Palo Alto
Saturday, Sept. 20 12:30 - 2:00 Healthy Horizons, Burlingame/San Mateo
Tuesday, Sept. 30 10:00 - 11:30 Peninsula Jewish Community Center, Foster City

Six-Day Playgroup Series once your baby is around six months and older.

Saturdays, Nov. 8 - Dec. 20 12:30 - 1:30 Blossom Birth Services, Palo Alto

Click for more details

In This Issue

About Massage

About Us

Saturday Sanctuary for Moms

Baby Sign Classes

Meet BABI!

Saturday
September 6th

10:00 to 3:00

Capri Elementary School

850 Chapman Dr

Campbell, CA 95008

Come to Bay Area Birth Information's free annual open house to connect expectant and new parents with dedicated professionals, services, information, and resources.

Presentations range from baby sign language to elimination communication, and you can learn about holistic remedies, staying connected as a couple, diaper options, pelvic floor health, and many other interesting and relevant topics. (Bill will be speaking at 12:30. Stop by and say hi!)

For more information,
visit the Meet BABI

webpage

About Massage

Although Kathleen won't be providing massage therapy sessions anymore, there are still very talented and well-trained massage therapists at Touch Blue Sky who specialize in pre- and postnatal massage, Swedish and deep tissue bodywork, CranioSacral Therapy and other types of healing energy work.

To schedule a session
or to learn more,
call 650-222-6538 or
send us an email.

Visit our About Us page on the Touch Blue Sky website to read about our massage therapists.

Quick Links

Our Website

Signing Classes

Mommy Mentoring

___________________________

About Us

Touch Blue Sky is the collaborative work of the husband/wife team of Kathleen Harper and Bill White.

We help parents live with more joy by illuminating new ways to nurture, communicate, and connect with themselves, each other, and their children. We love to share what excites us with families throughout the Bay Area and beyond, including mentoring for moms, baby sign language programs, and massage therapy, including prenatal and postnatal massage.

For more information, please visit the Touch Blue Sky website and feel free to contact us with any questions.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Take care,

Kathleen Harper
Certified Life Coach/
Program Director
kathleen@touchbluesky.com
650-222-6538

Bill White
Sign Language Director
bill@touchbluesky.com
650-571-0337

Kathleen / Mommy Mentor

Bill / Sign Language
for Babies & Children

Had a great experience
with Touch Blue Sky?
Please take a moment to add your voice to our Yelp page and inspire others to seek out our classes, coaching, and massage therapy.

Falling into Loveliness

How many times do you think in a day, "I wish my life was different?" A wish that your baby's colic would go away. A wish that you had a job that you actually liked. A wish that your thighs were smaller, your boobs bigger, or your tummy flatter.

I wish that my hands didn't hurt. As a massage therapist with aching hands, I'm in good company. Most massage therapists don't last more than eight years in the field and the most common reason for leaving the profession is physical pain. I've had my share of physical discomfort over the course of my career. I once saw my doctor when I was dealing with lower back pain and she told me to avoid activities where I was on my feet for long periods of time and bending forward. More recently, when my neck was hurting, she said to not to look down so much. And with my hands, her advice was to eliminate strenuous use and get a brace to wear as close to 24/7 as possible. I have to remind my doctor what I do for a living. I stand. I lean forward. I look down. My hands have been my career for 14 years.

I have wished daily for my hands to feel better. By focusing on the pain in my hands, I avoided the greater pain of the eventual loss of my massage therapy practice and the fear of not knowing what comes next. By making my situation about my physical pain, I didn't have to acknowledge my feelings of loss, regret, and fear.

Don't we all do this? Focus on the little pain - like the way our bodies look or how much we want to stay at home instead of going to work - as a way of burying the other pain that feels too big to manage. Our attention on our little pain keeps us from having to make real change.

Our focus on the small keeps us on the wall,
like Humpty Dumpty, afraid to fall.

Read more

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Saturday Sanctuary for Moms
September 13th

San Mateo

Do you need a time out?

Imagine ...

* A supportive community of moms who are honest and willing to share their own successes and failures as moms so that you can trust that you are not the only mom who is feeling wobbly about this thing called motherhood.

* A place to go every month to expand on the wisdom you already possess, led by a mentor who is not only an experienced mother but a well-trained life coach so you can learn ways to ease stress.

* A learning opportunity to discover practical and mindful ways to exercise your wholehearted muscles so that you are stronger and happier in your day-to-day life.

"This was the kind of break I really needed.
It reminded me of things I needed to remember."

Saturday, September 13th

San Mateo

Morning Retreat
10:00 to noon

$40

Register Now!

Afternoon Retreat

1:30 to 3:30

$40

Register Now!

Coming Home to Acceptance

Acceptance is "the act of embracing what life presents to you with a good attitude," writes Cherie Carter-Scott, in her book If Life is a Game, These are the Rules. "The way you view your body is directly related to how close you are to learning the lesson of acceptance." Wisdom and beauty are found on a path through the body by embracing our weight, lumps and bumps, and other perceived flaws. In this Saturday Sanctuary, we'll begin to look at what is getting in the way of acknowledging our bodies as our lifelong guides in our journey toward peace and joy.

Each retreat includes a short guided meditation that you can integrate into your day-to-day life, conversation with other moms in a safe and nurturing environment, new ideas and tools, and a hands-on craft project to build a bridge between the retreat and your daily routine. Light refreshments are provided.

The groups are just for moms so that you can take the time for yourself without distractions from your family. Space is limited to only eight moms; registration is required.

Come to Saturday Sanctuary for Moms to rest,
relax, and renew. You'll head home happier.

Contact Kathleen with any questions or for more information.

Baby Sign Language

Teach your baby to sign

I LOVE YOU

Six month to seven months old is a perfect time to join a six-day Playgroup Series. And when your baby is 13 to 14 months old, take a refresher course to improve your skills and increase your baby's signing vocabulary.

Touch Blue Sky offers two different playgroup series - Playgroup Boom and Playgroup Zoom. No need to take them in order; you can start with either one. Both Playgroups include the essential basic starter signs but vary in the more advanced vocabulary. Visit our Touch Blue Sky website for more details.

Read Testimonials...

Coming Soon!

Register Today ~ Space is Limited