Urban Mamas

Hello PDX Mamas and Families,

My name is Karen Chenier. I am a counselor, group facilitator, dance movement therapist, and a part-time professor at Portland State University's Psychology Department. 

In February, I am offering a New Parents Group (baby and parent(s)) and a Parents Only group.

You shall see various flyers posted up and around the neighborhood in the next week (New Seasons Market, Common Ground Wellness Center, Jim and Patty's Coffee House ect...)  If you wish to receive a informational flyer please call, or email, and I would be happy to send one to you. 

In addtion, I am scheduled to speak on the subject of Mindful Attached Parenting at the New Renaissance Bookstore, NW Portland  on Thursday, April 26th, 7-8:30pm.   

To give you a little background, I have an interest in the creative and somatic aspects of psychotherapy and wellness, and have over 12 years of experience in the field.  I specialize in working with individuals, couples, and families in helping to address parenting skills, school/work related problems, relationship issues, marital problems, divorce, and life-transitions, loss, anxiety and depression.  My office is located at Common Ground, Flanders House in NE Portland.

I am very happy to answer any quesitons you may have regarding the groups and services.  You may contact me by phone or email.

Warmly,
Karen

Karen Marie Chenier Ph.D, R-DMT
Counselor & Lecturer
Common Ground Wellness Center
Flanders House
2926 NE Flanders St., Suite 2D
Portland, Oregon
mobile: 503.206.2297
email: kchenierphd@gmail.com
website:  flandershousepdx.org

Hi-

Based on a friend's recommendation I recently took my son for a dental exam and cleaning at a new pediatric dentist in our area (Sunnyside) and she is so fantastic I had to pass her info along:

Jenna Milot DDS, Sprout Pediatric Dentistry, 1401 SE Morrison, 503 477 9911

Jenna immediately connected with my son, put him at ease, and engaged him during the entire process of examining and cleaning his teeth- a very different experience than our first pediatric dentist.  She was thorough but also realxed and open to answering questions- both mine and his.  I learned several things from her- the most important regarding how to adequately provide flouride for my child while not overdosing him with injested flouride.  Jenna provided clear (and evidence based!  she had research to support what she was recommending.. that certainly didn't happen with our last kid's dentist either!!) guidelines for keeping my boy's teeth strong and cavity free while avoiding the brown streaks that can occur on permanent teeth for children who have injested too much flouride.  And apparently all of those flouride tablets my kid has been obediently chewing since he was a toddler and not the most effective or safest way to accomplish this.  Who knew?  So anyway- it was a fabulous visit for my son, for me, and I would love to see this wonderful dental resource grow and thrive in our community.  The clinic is just off the Morrison bridge for those coming from other parts of the city- very accessible from downtown

click here to see awesome baby/mama stuff for sale!

YES, that's right, i am doing my semi-annual purging of the stuff. this stuff feels like it is swallowing my home, but perhaps you have a place for an item or two (or 10 or 20, who am i to argue?) here you will find tons of new and lightly used toys, baby slings, clothes, furnishings, and other items...

i am constantly updating my craigslist ad and also have a TON of clothes (newborn-5 boy, newborn-10 girl, and teen/ladies/juniors small and medium) and shoes (same size range), and books and toys that i have not individually listed yet. also have a big dresser with a mirror attached and some kitchen appliances/ gadgets that i may be persuaded to sell! also a breast pump, petunia picklebottom diaper bag, little tikes slide and other outdoor items...

please let me know if you're needing anything, listed or not!

Our 3 year old just started preschool, and although it's only been 2 weeks since we started, we have already learned so much (and not just how to stack blocks and paint with water color)!

The other day, we had a parent meeting where we found out about government requirements for disinfecting in the classroom. Especially right now, with the H1N1 scare, all disinfecting products used at schools must be EPA certified as a pesticide. Needless to say, virtually all these products are toxic not only to germs, but to humans too, causing skin, eye and lung irritation or worse, and must carry warning labels. They also have very specific instructions for how they can be used around children who might mouth surfaces sprayed with these products.

For example, the Clorox® website states, "Q. Is it acceptable to use Clorox® Disinfecting wipes on children's toys and highchairs?
A. Yes, provided the high chair tray that may come in contact with food and toys that may be mouthed by children are rinsed thoroughly with water after wiping."

I am surely not the only one who thinks it seems completely contradictory that in order to keep our children "safe," we have to spray pesticides all around them! Yuck! No, that does not seem safe at all. And even with a water rinse, exactly how "thoroughly" is "thoroughly" anyway?

I decided to do some research on the issue and find a safer alternative to be used at my daughter's Preschool, and came up
with PureGreen24-- the FIRST and ONLY truly green, non-toxic, EPA-certified disinfectant on the market!

I am excited to be able to bring this product to my child's Preschool and want to offer it to your child's school or your office or sports team as well. Please go here to read more about PureGreen24, and you can shop here for PureGreen24 products. Please note the case quantity discounts!