Urban Mamas

Hello Mamas,

My husband and I are so excited to be having our first child at the beginning of July! And I can't believe it's time to start exploring these things already, but I'm looking for both doula and daycare recommendations. I know there is the childcare forum on here and I'm keeping an eye on it, but there doesn't seem to be a place for doula info. So if you know of, have experience with, or have a friend who has experience with a really great doula (or daycare), please let me know. Also, please let me know if there are any you think I should avoid. Thanks so much for your help!

Cheers,
Kristin

kristin.pdx@gmail.com

Greetings!  My name is Sara Rosenblum-Fishman and I am a Ph.D. candidate in Clinical Psychology at University of Massachusetts Boston.  My dissertation project is exploring what experiences contribute to whether mothers feel effective about their parenting.  This project is focusing on mothers of school-age children, some of whom may be parenting a child with a developmental disability.  I am conducting an on-line research study to explore this topic, and participation in this project takes 40-45 minutes.  Participants completing the survey will have the opportunity to enter in a drawing to win one of three $100 gift cards.

Questionnaire URL:  https://www.psychdata.com/s.asp?SID=142124 

Eligibility:  (1) You are a female caregiver of a child between the ages of 6-years-old and 11-years-old (including 6- & 11-year-olds); (2) Your child in this age range is in the 5th grade, or below. 

Please contact the principle investigator, Sara Rosenblum-Fishman for more information: Sara.Rosenblum001@umb.edu or 617-971-8353 

Thank you very much!

 

Hi everyone,

I'm new to Portland and have an 8 month old. We live in North Portland and I'm trying to find a gym with childcare, or a mama boot camp type thing (where you can bring your baby). I haven't found anything close by to our home. Any thoughts?

Thanks!
Lanya

I am trying to find a good dentist for adults that takes OHP. I have Access Dental Plan and I am desperately trying to find a reputable dentist that will accept my insurance before it runs out at the beginning of August. The few I have found have horrible reviews, and I feel like there are some places that take OHP that don't advertise it. So if anyone has any recommendations, please post a comment. Thanks!

Are you interested in a French immersion education for your children?  Le Monde Immersion is currently enrolling kindergarteners for 2011-2012.  This class is a private, low cost option while we await receipt of our Portland Public Schools Charter status.  Visit www.lemondeimmersion.org to learn more! Additionally, please consider completing our short survey to support our PPS Charter application here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HB2XWGK

PSU is conducting research to better understand how, why, and where families with children walk and bicycle and how physically active they are.  Results of the study will help Portland create better neighborhoods.  They are actively seeking all types of families to participate.  If eligible, families will receive $15 per day of the study.  Complete details here: http://www.fastudy.cts.pdx.edu/index.php

Does anyone have a pediatric dermatologist recommendation?  We are switching providers and need to find someone who can help us with our son's eczema.

Hello fellow mamas!  You may have seen my posts here and there and I've recently created a Facebook page for my classes...finally!  I would love to be friends, hear your suggestions/comments and interact with you on Facebook.  So come check me out...and all of my great family resources, "likes" and "shares" that are all things mama, family and baby!  See you there! Thank you!!  Dena Holstrom, RN, www.babyloveworkshop.com, Babylove Workshop on FB.

My three year old son's daycare has suggested that my son needs some extra help with his interactions with his peers, and has suggested that I talk to Multnomah County ECD.  I called them yesterday, and was told that their first step is to do a battery of tests and if my kid qualifies for services come up with an IEP.  I am alarmed.  My son is very, very slow to warm up to strangers, but he's not shy, per se, so his MO is to ignore new adults-- no speaking in their presence, no eye contact, and certainly no cooperation or instruction-following.  He's already seeing a speech pathologist who was convinced that my kid has an eye contact problem, and it took bringing in some video footage from home to convince him that my kid's behavior is situational.  The SLP is a very seasoned professional.  I am very open to the idea of getting my kid help with his social development if that's what he needs.  However, I am concerned that his evaluators are going to come up with a misdiagnosis based on his reticence with strangers, and I am worried that that diagnosis will follow him through his school years, helpful or not, and influence how his teachers treat him for years to come.  I also have a really hard time understanding how categorizing my kid as "special ed" at age three makes sense.  I expressed these concerns to staff at Multnomah Co., and was told that very nicely that they are unfounded, but the staff member couldn't tell me why my concerns are unfounded.  So how about it, mamas?  Anybody's kid been through the system?  How did it go?  Does anyone have any advice for us?

Hello PDX parents!

I am a single mom to a young toddler and am relocating to the Portland area. I'm absolutely lost when it comes to neighborhoods to check out. I will be up in PDX in August to scope out the area. I'm looking for safe, but somewhat urban community. I'd like to stay away from the 'burbs if possible.

Also, if there are any other single parents out there, please contact me! My name is Amanda and you can reach me at nonameamanda@gmail.com!