Issue #2: sensitivity is STRENGTH
Head into the weekend with your FULL self!
Did a friend send you this? Subscribe to receive our newsletter in your inbox weekly!
This year has been a difficult one for women’s reproductive rights and in turn maternal and birth outcomes in the U.S. April 11th-17th marks Black Maternal Health Week– founded and led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance to build awareness, activism, and community-building to amplify the voices, perspectives and lived experiences of Black Mamas and birthing people. Learn more and get involved at:
This week’s Five Senses Friday is from Executive Director of Sawubona Enterprises: Doula Services and Mental Health First Aid Training, Toni!
TASTE: Mobay Cafe. I have a very healthy addiction to my favorite Jamaican Spot in Milwaukee. Nestled on the corner of 1 st and Mineral, and Black-owned, you are greeted with smiles from the owner as the sounds of reggae flare fills the air with a light mist. Mobay is home and the cooking feels like love. My favorite dish? Don’t ask me that because every entry is divine and not fair to pick sides but you can’t go wrong with the Island Shrimp Curry paired with cabbage, rice, and plantains. The Jamaican rum punch pairs well with your food selection. I bring everyone I adore to this place to savor the care that’s created with every plate. My palate is spoiled at Mobay Café and I love that!
SEE: Starved Rock State Park. Water, sand, nature. It is my happy place. My time to connect to my inner thoughts and more importantly, God. I made a fervent effort to spend more space in nature where everything has a purpose and takes nothing from you but invests in the quietness you seek to find and the stillness we often need. On my quest to find more places to visit, I get excited when I travel to Starved Rock State Park in Illinois. Knee-burning trails, waterfalls, and peace awaits you.
SMELL: Honeybee Sage Wellness and Apothecary. Candles and enticing body creams have me at ‘hello’. Honeybee Sage on MLK drive in Milwaukee is a quaint, inviting place to meet friends and sip on something that fuels your dreams. They offer a range of soaps, body creams, and treats to remind your spirit, “You deserve this moment.”
HEAR: 502 on Garfield. ‘Music makes me lose control’, in the words of Missy Elliot and it has always been that pick me up elixir my entire life outside of writing. Milwaukee boasts an electrifying concert, theatre and music scene. My favorite places to see a live band that gets my feet and shoulders moving is the legendary 502 on Garfield and Saint Kate’s Art Hotel.
TOUCH: Power of Massage During Pregnancy and Labor. The power of a tender welcomed touch is undeniable. As a certified community-based doula, I offer personalized prenatal, labor, and postpartum love and support through comfort measures that may include massage. This effective method to comfort and create an empowering environment for birthing persons has been measured as an effective tool in easing the human pain during a beautiful birthing experience. Whether through an intentional massage or hug, using our hands to console and spread reassurance is a gift we all can give. I often say, ‘If you’re going to hug me, do it on purpose!’
What is appealing to your senses right now? What are you reading? watching? cooking? wearing? loving? obsessed with? We would love to share some of your picks in future newsletters!
Learn more about IW WORKSHOPS at MKE Women’s Entrpreneurship Week!
Join Theresa Kopac and Interwovxn board member, Caitlin Walsh, for this empowering and supportive gathering designed for women navigating the intricate balance between the demands of motherhood and running their own businesses. Participants will explore the concept of the invisible load, strengthen compassion for the unique challenges they face, and learn techniques to alleviate anxiety and stress. The workshop aims to foster a sense of community among like-minded women, providing a platform for networking, sharing experiences, and building a strong support system. By the end of the workshop, participants will leave with a renewed sense of confidence to navigate the complexities of their dual roles. To learn more about WEW events and register, go to shestandstallmke.com.
Join Rebecca Jankowski and Interwovxn board member, Sara Beaumont, to deepen your knowledge of menstrual cycle phases and physiology. Learn about cycle syncing and how it can be used as tool to help you achieve your personal and professional goals. Did you know that the best time to schedule networking or speaking events may be during your ovulatory phase? Our hormones are primed for connection and we are often feeling most social and confident at this time of the month. During this workshop we will explore how understanding and harnessing the power of your menstrual cycle can enhance your productivity. We’ll delve into the science of hormonal fluctuations and practical strategies to align tasks with your energy levels throughout the month. To learn more about WEW events and register, go to shestandstallmke.com.
Season 6 of the INTERWOVXN podcast arrives in May! Intimacy + Sexual Health.
Exploring pelvic floor health, reestablishing a connection with our bodies, embracing our sensuality and sexuality as we age, and engaging in conversations with our partners and children about relationships and sexual well-being are integral aspects of our journey towards personal wellness. Join us this coming season as we connect with experts and women to discuss the ways in which intimacy and sexual wellness can promote overall well-being and bring us closer to ourselves.
Until then, catch up on episodes you missed on our website, here on Substack, or wherever you listen to podcasts!
my (theresa) WIN: seeing sensitivity as a strength
As part of our nightly routine my daughter and I will jump into bed and pick a couple of activities to do together. It’s usually reading, Find and Seek, and working on a crossword puzzle. The other night, one of the crossword clues was: A person who breaks down easily into tears or overreacts, and the answer was Sensitive.
I felt myself immediately bristle. I said, “Well that’s not what sensitive means to me”. I asked my daughter, “Does that feel right to you?” and her very quick response was “No”. I suggested thinking of other ways the crossword maker (who was a man and it shouldn’t matter, but it does) could have phrased the clue to the word sensitive. We thought “compassionate towards the feelings of others” felt more accurate. We moved on to the next clue and I could see she was over it, but it left me with ripples of irritation.
As a sensitive person who grew up hearing “Stop being so sensitive” and “You are SO sensitive” hurled as insults, I developed a negative association with that characteristic. I received the message loud and clear that it was more acceptable and desirable to be tough and unaffected, so I adapted. For years into my adulthood I made sure that my sensitive nature remained contained and minimized. I cared about people and their wellbeing but I couldn’t allow myself to be swept up and I kept my self-compassion small. After years of functioning this way in masculine working environments I crashed. I was tired. Tired of feeling disjointed and disconnected. Tired of working against myself. So I gave in and immersed myself in work that not only deeply connected me to others but also myself. I feel the most alive when doing my work as a reiki practitioner and doula and being sensitive is key.
I don’t fully regret the years I spent away from my gift of sensitivity because I have a greater understanding of it as a result. I see that my daughter carries this gift and if I can gently show her its power, my hope is that she will see it as a strength to incorporate into a good life.
a sneak peak at the EBOOK we are working on!
Motherhood INTERWOVXN
A note from your postpartum doula …
When I show up and you hand me things, the things you are too tired to do, don’t want to do, or can’t do, I know there is a mix of feelings.
I should be doing …
I should be able to do …
Generations of women before me …
This is too privileged …
Your expectations of motherhood are being revealed.
You are seeing pieces of the mother load.
Every inch of the day is taken up by the mother load. It is what we are programmed to believe is normal. Not making time to sit and taste our meal, to rest when we need rest. But to feel hurried and burned out and always behind, and doing it all.
Motherhood support disrupts that illusion. We remind you that you have human limitations and a right to boundaries. And that your inner wisdom is there and ready to be heard.
You learn to accept help.
You learn to ask for help and know that others are capable of contributing.
You learn to prioritize yourself and create boundaries.
You learn rest is good and vital.
You learn life is also enjoyment.
Practice saying what you need every day.
And we leave you with…
Postpartum Meal Packages from Sonja at Mahlzeit
As a women’s health acupuncturist and postpartum doula, we got so excited when we learned Sonja was offering meal packages for new moms. Inspired by the book The First Forty Days, Mahlzeit MKE creates 4 week postpartum meal plans based on Traditional Chinese Medicine postpartum care practices and nutritional therapies to nourish birthing bodies. Whether you are planning ahead for after your own birth or looking to support a family member or friend who is soon welcoming a little one, food is the perfect way to ease the transition of those first few weeks.
Have a great weekend!
