Chose to become a full-time parent after earning a PhD-left the academic world because I knew I wanted to be a full-time parent-even when this was hugely unpopular and viewed as not being for "women's rights" (and I thought all along it was about having Choices! --I got criticized fiercely by other mothers who said "I will never be on the Mommy Train!' and I thought to myself-Dang! I'm the engine of that train! I had a hospital birth-my daughter struggled to latch on-She didn't gain weight-very scary-I was very committed to breastfeeding-got support from a gifted lactation consultant-and got to do a combo of supplementing at the breast with the Hazelbaker finger feeder, then a bottle with a tube that rested on my breast-so my daughter could continue to breastfeed And have the supplement. 

I Home Birthed my son almost 3 years later and Loved this Experience with a gifted midwife. I felt completely empowered as a woman with a healthy pregnancy-I did all the research, had a backup plan, and learned what EMTs had in their ambulance to assist me. The experience became a bonding one for my entire family-we read books to my daughter about a baby arriving-she got to see her brother being born while being held in the arms of her dad. My daughter cooed as my son emerged into the world. I intuitively knew the gender of both of my children before they were born--I did not have any tests to back this up. I just knew... I loved being a full time parent-honored by the transformational journey this became for me-to break the cycle, to "give the love that heals." 

I breastfed my son with no issues whatsoever and did so until he was 3 years old (was not verbally open about this as breastfeeding-like full-time parenting--seemed to get people all prickly and agitated). I'm so grateful I followed my gut and heart. I'm grateful for the midwives who supported me and the lactation consultant, too--and for my compassionate friends who were a part of La Leche League. I also adored reading Mothering Magazine-a lifeline of love and support! 

I passionately support people thriving in a holistic transformation of heart, mind, soul, and space. I'm a trained and certified feng shui consultant and an author of four books, a columnist with BizCatalyst360, and the OWL publication with Sacred Stories. I write personal essays about emotional health, feng shui, love, and wisdom gleaned from my own inner/outer transformations. I see myself as a compassionate guide who asks meaningful questions, listens deeply, and shares ideas as offerings on the table. 

FIND LAURA HERE: cherishyourworld.com loveyourspaceloveyourlife.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurastaley1/ https://www.facebook.com/laurastaleycherish https://www.instagram.com/cherishyourworld/channel/?hl=en 

OTHER PODCAST EPISODES: https://youtu.be/M-W4u6qNR9I https://youtu.be/OqCuwNvT3qE