MSI Press Blog

  The following note/post came from Julia Aziz, author of  Lessons of Labor: One Woman's Self-Discovery through Birth , in response to Mother's Day. Every May I think to myself, "I want to send something out for Mother's Day," but there's two reasons I usually don't: (1) In my own home life, this time of year tends to feel like a parenting marathon, without much room for extra writing. And (2) I am sensitive to the reality that many of my readers are grieving on this day, whether that be for their mothers or for children they've lost or didn't have. A simple "Happy Mother's Day" message never feels right. But I gave it more space and decided to send something this year because I think we could all use some deeper acknowledgement. If you're a mom having a hard time staying centered, perhaps without enough room for true self-care,  please see my most recent  blog post with free gifts for moms.  There you'll find links to a recor

   Julia Aziz, author of  Lessons of Labor.  was featured on Fourth Trimester Podcast, Listen to it HERE . Read posts about Julia and her book  HERE . Link to reviews of Julia's book  HERE . Read more posts about motherhood  HERE .                                  Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newslette                          Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,  Face Book , and  Instagram .

  For those who have been following interviews of MSI Press author, Julia Aziz ( Lessons of Labor ), here are some you may have missed: Julia discusses miscarriage on EmpowHer. Check it out HERE . Julia discusses how childbirth can be one of life's greatest teachers on Talk Zone HERE . Julia talks about honoring birth on Extraordinary Moms podcast HERE . Julia talks about lessons of labor on Synchronicity Talk Radio from Vancouver HERE . Julia discusses "Where are all the babies?" on Smart Mom Solutions HEFRE . Julia discusses "How birth translates into life lessons" on Postpartum Podcast HERE . Read posts about Julia and her book HERE . Link to reviews of Julia's book HERE . Read more posts about motherhood HERE .                                  Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newslette                          Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,  Face Book , and  Instagram .

  Another oldie but goodie, that we somehow missed posting/sharing when it happens. Never too late to listen, though. Here is Julia Aziz, author of Lessons of Labor , talking about reclaiming the self in motherhood, a topic that never dies, on Mom Talk Radio. Link to the video HERE . Read posts about Julia and her book HERE .                                  Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter                           Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,  Face Book , and  Instagram .

  For your listening pleasure -- and erudition, here is a roundup of podcasts produced by Julia Aziz, author of Lessons of Labor.   Julia Aziz - Top podcast episodes (listennotes.com) Read posts about Julia and her book  HERE . Link to reviews of Julia's book  HERE . Read more posts about motherhood  HERE .                                  Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newslette                          Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,  Face Book , and  Instagram .

  Today's daily excerpt comes from 108 Yoga and Self-Care Practices for Busy Mamas by Julie Gentile: Meditate. Breathe. Repeat.  Meditation is magical. At first, I was hesitant to sit with scattered thoughts, but after attending many classes and workshops, meditation began to grow on me until it blossomed into a beautiful practice. It isn’t about completely clearing your mind of your thoughts. Meditation is sitting with your thoughts, without judging them, and noticing what feelings and sensations arise. Although traditionally practiced seated, you can meditate anywhere, any time. The more you meditate, the more you benefit. Reduced stress and anxiety, better concentration, and a better sense of clarity are just a few perks of a regular meditation practice. Where does the magic come in? Meditation helps uncover your true self—your genuine wants, needs, hopes, and desires. If there is an important decision you need to make, meditate. If you’re looking to find you’re true

  We do have books that make great Mother's Day gifts. Here are some of them: Girl, You've Got This! Transitioning to motherhood is hard. Along with it comes a lot of fear, anxiety and responsibility. You want to provide everything for your new child, and it is all too easy to let other things – like self-care – slide. How do new moms stay on top of finances, a healthy diet, housework, a fitness routine, work, and other personal needs? Combining her expertise as a personal trainer and successful entrepreneur with her life as a wife and mother who is pregnant with her second child, Brittany Renz helps readers find balance as new moms by preparing and establishing routines throughout the nine months of pregnancy. She encourages expectant mothers to set themselves up for success as mothers, spouses and working professionals – and she knows what she is talking about. How to Be a Good Mommy When You're Sick Soon after receiving her Bachelor’s Degree, Emily Graves was diagnosed w

  I suppose it is hokey associating Labor Day (the day to honor workers) with the labor of childbirth, but, heck, it ain't called "labor" for nothing. Any woman who has gone through it can tell you that it is a lot of work. Ironically, my daughter's birthday is today, Labor Day. Giving birth during the Labor Day weekend meant that her doctor was out of town, but we both survived. Though I tried hard to make it into the regular work week, she was having none of that, and after 12 hours of negotiation on the date, she won. So, happy birthday to my Labor Day (now working) girl. It seems appropriate, then, to share an excerpt today from Lessons of Labor by Julia Aziz, a social worker and three times a mother. She knows something about both kinds of labor.  REMEMBERING THE BEGINNER’S MIND   About a week before my second baby’s due date, I woke up in the middle of the night to the same menstrual-like cramping that began my first labor. Excited at 3 a.m. in the morning, I wo

Julia Aziz has penned a column for the Power of Moms web journal, titled "Motherhood: A Choose Your Own Adventure Story." She begins: Do you co-sleep? Schedule feedings? Baby wear? Cry it out? The questions start from the beginning. Whatever the age and stage, mothers are often asked to take a philosophical stance on child-rearing and debate issues so seemingly serious they sometimes damage friendships between women.  Read the rest of the article HERE . Read more posts by and about Julia Aziz and her book, including book excerpts,  HERE . Listen to a podcast interview of Julia by Dr. Betty Lou Leaver, Managing Editor of the MSI Press HERE .

Dr. Graves (Ph. D., Texas Tech University) is an education expert, well-published in peer-reviewed journals and textbooks. During pregnancy, she suffered complications due to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that resulted in kidney failure. After personally experiencing the traumatic change from career woman to a chronically ill, stay-at-home mom, she has actively cultivated strategies to balance her ongoing health battles with her desire to be a great mother and wife while staying professionally active. Her book,   How to Be a Good Mommy When You’re Sick: A Guide to Motherhood with Chronic Illness , gained the attention of   Library Journal , which reviewed it positively. Other positive reviews followed. For other posts about Dr. Graves and her book, click HERE .

from chapter, Before You Conceive: Every person has a different body with different needs, but whether you are young or old, fit or not, pregnancy puts the body through a lot. I want you to keep in mind that health and fitness aren’t one-size-fits all. What works for one person won’t always work for another. Life—and health—are all about finding something that works for you. Taking stock is a powerful first step if you want to set yourself up for success. When is the last time you touched base with yourself and your health? Questionnaire  1 . How do you feel about your body as it is right now? Try to be as nice as possible . 2 . What role has health played in your life? Has it been an adversary? Has it always been on the backburner? Is it something you have poked fun at? 3 . Do you have any medical conditions you need to take into account when exercising? Chronic pain? Migraines? Old injuries? 4 . Do you have any dietary restrictions (or personal taste restrictions for th

The following excerpt comes from Dr. Fisanick's book, The Optimistic Food Addict (Chapter 6):               The roads were thick with ice the night I told my parents I was pregnant. My boyfriend and I broke the news to my mother first, as we sat on that old, gold couch in the living room, waiting for my dad to get home from the midnight shift.               My mother, who had been a teen mother herself, was disappointed, probably because she knew the hard road ahead of me. She wanted me out, and she was sure my dad would feel the same.               I had just turned seventeen and was in my senior year of high school. I was an underachieving Honors student. I stopped caring about school the day I met my neighbor’s blond haired, blue-eyed best friend. And there I sat next to him, five months pregnant with his child.               The trailer where I grew up was cold that night, like always. The lack of insulation and ancient oil furnace meant frozen pipes and the necessit

Happy Mother's Day! It is always important and gratifying to find a reason for joy in the midst of troubled times! And, if you have some reading time, here are some books written especially for mothers: 108 Yoga and Self-Care Practices for Busy Mama s by Julie Gentile Mama, do you find yourself too busy to take good care of yourself? Whatever your situation, you deserve spectacular health and wellness. With Julie M. Gentile as your personal wellness mentor, this book coaches you along your own authentic self-care path. Using 108 writing prompts and self-care practices, including yoga poses, meditations, and breathing exercises, Julie shows you practical ways to live well that only a mama modern would understand. Become the self-care goddess you truly want to be—you’re worth it! How to Be a Good Mother When You're Sick: A Guide to Motherhood with Chronic Illness by Dr. Emily Graves Soon after receiving her Bachelor’s Degree, Emily Graves was diagnosed w