When Times Are Hard

Isn't he sweet? Image is used with premission of his parents.

This man is many. months old now, helping to create chaos in the house and around the farm. In this picture, he was probably two hours, enough time so that he has nursed thoroughly, and his mother was out of the pool showering and what have you. I got the provilege of holding his smiling self for al little bit.

Life became much more difficult for a little while for this family before it got better again. With the government shutdown, one parent was fuloughed, the other lost their job entirely. They became extremely creative in order to stay afloat- and made it to the other side.

It has been a rough season for lots of folks. I have had cliets postpone paying me until I am sticking to my own principles about how I conduct business just because I do. I will not change the rules because I, myself, am broke. I won't do it! Anyone who needs a homebirth should be able to have one. It is not always the wealthy who need homebirths. With homebirth midwives now charcging 6 to 8 thousand dollars, and many wanting it all paid before the birth, we are pricing ourselves right out of reach for people who need us the most. I am not a fan! I still have a sliding scale, and an a la carte menu for people who only want certain services. When we have winters like this one where everything is more expensive, and then more expensive again (think IV catheters, tanks of oxygen, all of the exotica that we rarely use but must have to practice safely) and people are deciding regretfully they just can't do anything except use their medicaid - which we are not allowed to take - =you get the picture!

What to do at these times? go through all my bags and supples and clean/resterilize everything. Have random conversations with clients old and new jest to check in. Read and study. There are always new things to learn. There are always practice guidellines to revise, Write a book (maybe three - I have a specific one in mind about the ethics of this work that we do, and my kids want an autobiography. Those come before the textbook).

It seems really important to keep the birth energy moving and circulating through the world. It helps us all understand what is important and move toward it. It is not about marketing, or going viral, or claiming credit for anything at all! It is aobut inspiring people one at a time to step into their power and refuse to step out again. Seeing families realize that they can do this, and after that, they can gradually begin to do a lot of other things consistent with this until they are no longer subject to confusion or intimidation is a wonderful thing!I cannot imagine a better way to spend my time!

Difficulties always pass. Beautiful births are forever!