Hi Mamas!! Sarah here from @launchwellnessaustin . I'm a mama to two Elementary aged kiddos, and I'm a psychologist and entrepreneur. I'm soooo excited to be here with you today and eager to talk about all the things I'm passionate about. ❤️ To start, some facts about me… ❤️ I live in Austin, TX though I'm originally from Cali. I moved to Houston when I was 18 and have been in Texas ever since! (Except a brief stint in CT..) ❤️ I got my undergraduate degree in engineering and after a few years decided to abandon ship. I took a leap, went to grad school and found my true passion…providing a safe space for women to receive love, be seen and change their lives! ❤️ I'm learning to play the guitar and have a recital coming up that I'm soooo excited about! ❤️ My 89 year old grandmother lives with us. ❤️ I had post-partum depression after my first kiddo (more on that later) which is a big part of why I focus on serving women. ❤️ My all time favorite movies are "Aliens" and "Arsenic and Old Lace" with "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" as a close third. ❤️ More soon! Happy morning! Sarah

A post shared by mamalode (@mamalode) on Apr 4, 2018 at 4:28am PDT

I had my first baby after 7 years of graduate study in child psychology. By all appearances to those that didn't know me I looked like this person in the picture: a baby lugging smiling mama. ❤️ Behind that smile I was struggling for air. My baby didn't sleep. Every time I heard her stir my heart would race and I couldn't fall back asleep as adreneline coursed through my veins. ❤️ I felt isolated and alone at home with her. Many of my friends didn't have babies yet. A few complained that I wasn't hanging out with them as much. In hindsight I know they should have taken that as a sign I needed help. At the time it made me feel even more inadequate and alone. ❤️ I knew I was in more pain than was right. I didn't know if it was normal or not. With all the studying I had done I had no idea what post-partum depression was or what was normal. I did know that I was drowning. Thoughts of hurting my baby terrified me. I spent more and more time crying. I didn't have anything in my life that made me feel like my old self. ❤️ I have fantasies of going back in time and helping that version of me. Bringing her dinner, or taking her to a therapist appointment. Or just telling her, "You're right. It's not supposed to be this bad." ❤️ I wish I could say that something like that happened. Instead I suffered for a long time. I didn't like my baby. I didn't feel attached to her even though I carried her all over the freaking place. And she and I have spent many many years repairing that early damage. ❤️ I am happy to report that we are in a great place now. Connected and happy. I had a second baby with lots of supports in place and no post-partum depression. I knew the second time around how much help is needed to have a child. ❤️ Now I spend most of my time creating community. That is my passion. You see it in everything I do. I'm excited to share more of that throughout today… ❤️ Sarah

A post shared by mamalode (@mamalode) on Apr 4, 2018 at 6:24am PDT

Being a mom, and a therapist, I tend to hold a lot of people's emotions in my body. Especially hard feelings — sad, mad and scared — cause me to hunch over and put strain on my back and neck. To counteract that I try to stretch throughout the day. ❤️ Two of my favorites are: 1) Stretching the chest by raising your arms in the doorway 2) Rolling a towel and laying on the floor with the towel across your shoulder blades to give your body a teeny backbend and create opening across the front of your body. ❤️ Quick things to do to support your body's health…which is tied in to everything else! If you have a crying toddler make sure you give your body extra care…all their feelings might be getting lodged in YOUR body … ❤️❤️❤️ Sarah

A post shared by mamalode (@mamalode) on Apr 4, 2018 at 9:19am PDT

I love people. I love being with people who ask me for help. Who show me how ugly life can be. Who cry. Who cuss. Who are honest. ❤️ We are a scattered people. "Tribe" is thrown around a lot…"find your tribe"…they say…but for good reason. Life isnt meant to be lived along. We are built for community. ??We don't have turtle babies that hatch themselves and go swim out to the ocean to find food. ??Our babies can't talk, walk, eat, crawl…they are kinda pathetic as the world's babies go…and they freaking need everything from us. We can't do that and live our isolated lives we live pre-kids. ❤️ We shouldn't have to love isolated lives at all. We need one another to find joy and help and comfort. It ain't easy to find your people though. It can feel a helluva lot like dating. Standing by the slide at the playground until you get up the nerve to ask that momma with the cool #topknot to give you her number… ❤️ Mamas, we gotta fix this world together. And that means loving on one another and being curious about each other's struggles and just being physically present. ❤️ So here's my challenge for you… ❤️❤️ The next time you have that urge to log into IG or Facebook because you are /bored/lonely/numb/disconnected/wanting…call a friend. Don't text. Literally call them. ❤️❤️Then pop over to @launchwellnessaustin and let me know how it goes. ❤️❤️ Sarah

A post shared by mamalode (@mamalode) on Apr 4, 2018 at 9:31am PDT

Quick #mindfulness tip to help you notice what you are bringing from one aspect of your life to another. How do you like to be #mindful throughout the day? #mamameditation

A post shared by mamalode (@mamalode) on Apr 4, 2018 at 11:58am PDT

Who do you intentionally gather with? What makes you set aside your cell phone? What are you willing to hire a sitter for? ❤️ Finding people that you can be with regularly is such an important way to enjoy this life. This picture is from one of our co-working happy hours… ❤️ Those of us running co-working Spaces often joke we are church for unchurched folks: a place you can gather regularly, eat together, support one another, and receive care. I like to think our little co-working space for wellness professionals gathers and supports folks who heal others. ❤️❤️ @launchwellnessaustin ❤️ There is no right or wrong way, the key is just to do it. ❤️ For those of you who know a mama of an infant, don't wait for her to come to you. Gather around her. Bring her food, hold to baby, let her and her partner get a break. Women are often raised not to be a burden and jot to ask for help; so don't wait for her to ask, just help. ❤️ Those of us with older kids get a bit of our identity back after the dog of toddler hood…and can more actively create a regular group to connect with. ❤️ It's not easy. I'm not intending to make it sound like it is. But, it is worth it if you can find it. ❤️If you're in Austin, come on by! I'll supply the tea! ❤️❤️ Sarah

A post shared by mamalode (@mamalode) on Apr 4, 2018 at 4:34pm PDT

In the evening, I head to my room forty five or so minutes before it is time to sleep. I stretch on the floor and breathe deeply. I wash my face and give myself a face massage and neck massage. I write a line in my "one line a day" journal. I put a drop of my favorite essential oil mix on my sheets. And I climb in bed to read for a bit. Beside my bed I have trinkets, like this one from @travelingzenden , that hold meaning and memories And bring me joy and comfort. ❤️ Evenings with my kids are usually stressful affairs. I can feel my muscles start to tense at dinner in anticipation of bedtime battles. Still. So for me, giving myself some comforting ritual at bedtime is more than some woo woo thing I do. It's about showing that I love myself, that I am a priority, and that I deserve care. Time isn't always on my side. I know an hour yoga routine isn't something I can commit to in this phase of life. But a few movements, a few breaths…intention…touch…that I can do. ❤️ Thank you for spending the day with me…May you find ritual in your life that brings you comfort…find me at @launchwellnessaustin for more on community, self care and business building. ? Sarah

A post shared by mamalode (@mamalode) on Apr 4, 2018 at 5:48pm PDT