I've been a childbirth educator at a small hospital in Ohio for a little over two years. We have the privilege of being the only hospital in the state to offer a true Lamaze class. Our class is 3 hours long and meets once a week for 4 weeks. Generally, of the 10 open seats in the class, 4 are filled a month. Sometimes more and sometimes less. This month I have 7 couples! And they are all birthing at our hospital! (Usually it is about 50/50.)

I was thrilled! Was word finally getting out about our amazing class? Are more people finally wanting to learn more about their birth? Regardless, I was really looking forward to teaching this class series.

After I welcomed everyone I started to give a brief overview of the class. When I started talking about class two, everyone looked confused. One person spoke up and said they thought the class was a one time class...and everyone else nodded their head in agreement. Someone else said that it being a one-time, 3 hour class was the only reason they signed up for it.

My heart sank. I didn't know what to say. I asked them a few questions:

• How many of you have spent at least 6 hours looking at and registering for baby items?
• How many of you have spent at least 6 hours designing, decorating and painting the baby's room?

To no surprise everyone raised a hand to at least one question and most everyone to both questions.

WHY!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Why do people put so much importance on things that really don't matter? Really, your baby won't care what color room he/she has!

It is after classes like this that I question why I do what I do.

Why do I spend my entire Sunday away from my family teaching people who really don't give a damn? I could be sitting by the pool, reading a good book, spending some quality time with my husband and kids. I do love what I do...I just wish the parents understood the importance of what is to come for them.

The First Day of the Last Year of My Twenties

My friend Kristen had the great idea to set 29 goals to accomplish before her 30th birthday. Today is her half-birthday and she posted a midyear progress report.

Today also happens to be my 29th birthday. Here's my list:

1. Attend the DONA International Birth Doula Trainer Workshop in New Mexico.
2. Complete the DONA International Birth Doula Trainer program.
3. Read The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King.
   
4. Blog at least once a week, and maybe even more than that.
5. Write a table of contents, outline and write at least 2 chapters of the book Kim and I want to write and publish. (It will be a book about childbirth from the perspective of a Labor & Delivery Nurse and a Birth Doula)
6. Cook a new dinner once a month.
7. Buy a new Jeep Wrangler...and pay cash for it.
8. Find a Christian church that meets all three of my requirements: 1. GLBT friendly, 2. Great music, 3. Kid friendly.
   
9. Strengthen my relationships with ALL of my parents.
10. Go backpacking at least 4 times.
11. Finish the sweater I am knitting.
12. Take my kids to the zoo, COSI, library, etc. more often.
13. Teach the Breastfeeding Preparation Class at RMH (I'll be the first non-IBCLC to teach the class).
14. Start and finish the Couch to 5k program (bad knees and all).
15. Convince the doctors at Kingsdale to not ban all doulas.
16. Teach Lydia how to knit.
17. No more fast food.
18. Listen to more of Jim's music.
    
19. Teach an Evidence-Based Care for Nurses class.
    
20. Help new doulas become experienced doulas.
    
21. Read the Harry Potter series to my kids.
    
22. Strengthen my relationship with both Becky and Lexie.
    
23. Beat the new Zelda Wii game (hopefully it will be out before I'm 30!).
    
24. Catch a fish.
    
25. Provide more learning opportunities for my kids.
    
26. Take more pictures.
    
27. Make my bed in the mornings.
    
28. Play more board games with my kids.
    
29. Truly forgive those who have hurt me.

I can do all these things, right? Right?! :D