What I feel was the most important aspect of the feeling of supportive community the Vesta Parenting ladies (Birth and Beyond Conference organizers Shawn DeVree and Melanie Taylor) fostered, was the emphatic focus upon the person rather than their title. All we had on our identity tags were our names. Nobody knew if you were a doctor, IBCLC, midwife, nurse, doula, student, vendor, or conference presenter by virtue of your tag. People took time to get to know each other, and people were seen for their smiles and the brightness in their eyes, their titles only discovered as the conversations unfolded. I so appreciated this. It actually helped me to heal a couple of prejudices. I admit to a bit of concern at anything that speaks of sleep consultation for babies. Yet I forged amazing relationships to beautiful souls without knowing in advance what they did, learning about their sleep work within the context of their compassion and beauty. Had I potentially shut down my mind a little to them (as I may have had their name tags announced what they did...sad to say, but in all honesty possibly true), that would have been a terrible shame. I learned stuff about ways to support the real need for maternal sleep while supporting the needs of the night waking baby that I may have missed with bias clogging up my ears.
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| End of day wrap up! From Left Dr. Jack Newman, Ina May Gaskin, Attie Sandink,Robbie Davis-Floyd,Nancy Wainer, Gena Kerby, Adriana Lozada, Lisa Marie Thibodeau, Lesley Everest, Melissa Krawecki, Carol Peat |
I have been a doula for over two decades, and have experienced most of the conference speakers before, but I've never hung out at length with them. So that was fun. It meant a lot to me to pick some pretty amazing brains and express my gratitude for all they do to support families and babies. This conference was about being together in community as birth and breastfeeding workers/supporters/researchers rather than being among a hierarchy of professionals. Everyone kind of hung out together and shared a lot of lively conversations. Making deep connections with many people, sharing many passionate discussions, and holding space (and being held) throughout emotional process was as rich to me as sharing my work with the people who showed up to come hear me speak.
I loved every minute of The Healer Within workshop I gave, and appreciated the willingness the attendees showed for such a deep level of participation. I felt like the talks I gave were well received given the lively conversation and questions. I so appreciate those who reached out to tell me they enjoyed themselves.
Most of all, I want to give an enthusiastic round of applause to the organizers, their supporters, and those of us who were graciously drawn into their inner sanctum. Ya'll know who you are.. You embraced me with open arms, fed me, checked in on me, plied me with drinks, invited me to hang with you, hugged me, let me hug you, shared stories, rubbed my feet, let me rub your feet, and were fully your beautiful, raunchy, awesome, open, badass selves. I couldn't have possibly loved you more. Butterflies.
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