Springtime is magical and dynamic time. As nature moves out of the cold, wet, dark winter towards spring, the pulse of life quickens, the earth warms, and blossoms unfurl, reaching for the sun. Nature makes it look smooth, but for us humans it's not as easy to transition gracefully from one season to the next—especially from winter to spring. More often we find ourselves feeling heavy and sluggish, like a cranky bear reluctantly coming out of hibernation.  Coming out of winter we tend to be more in our kapha dosha according to Ayurveda Science.  Our bodies become heavy with earthy-watery qualities; feeling sleepy, mentally dull, or depressed.  We tend to eat, sleep, and stay inside more during winter, which can result in a "winter coat" of insulation. In spring, we need to shed this excess kapha or risk becoming vulnerable to seasonal allergies, head colds, retain our weight gain or cling to an emotional dullness.

To keep ourselves balanced in our kapha dosha through this transition of seasons, develop a rhythm and routine that helps you gradually lighten up physically, mentally, and emotionally.  Eat lighter foods, practice yoga and meditation, get outside more. All you have to do is look around to be inspired at this time of year; renewal and transformation are literally welling up from the ground.  This is the time that you are most supported to make changes that can lighten the heaviness of your emotional and physical body. 

May the newness of spring fill you with inspiration, energy, and light so you are more in balance and stronger.  Let the beauty of new growth fill you from within and surround you on the outside.

This months topic is Improving Family Nutrition.  Please bring a healthy recipe to share with the group. 

Many BLLLessings,

Erin Abrams
LLL Leader of Sturbridge, MA
Please forward this to any pregnant or nursing mothers that you may know. If you would like to opt out of this newsletter - just hit "reply" and put "remove" in the subject line. 

Nighttime Meeting:
Date:  April 21st- (3rd Wed. of each month)
Time: 7-8:00PM
Topic: Improving Family Nutrition (Your questions and concerns are top priority.)
Recipe Swap: Bring a healthy recipe to share (please print a few off to hand-out and swap).  It can be a snack, meal, side dish, etc. 
Location:  Southbridge Savings Bank, Rt. 20 in Sturbridge
In the tradition of LLL, please join in the discussion and support our community .  All you have to bring is your experiences that you have encountered with breastfeeding or help support another mother that could use a bit of breastfeeding wisdom. ;)
Breastfeeding babies, toddlers, and breastfeeding children who would be unhappy away from their mothers are welcome. Click here for directions.

Daytime Meeting:
LLL of Worcester has daytime meetings on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 551 Pleasant St in Worcester. In addition they are offering a Sat. morning meeting soon. Contact LLL Worcester Leader: Jenn Dziejma dziejen@yahoo.com  or visit http://www.llleus.org/web/WorcesterMA.html for more information.

Daytime Playgroup:
Now that the weather is starting to warm up - would you be interested in starting a Playgroup Playdate with other LLL mom's?  Meet up at local playgrounds and let our children let out some energy!  It is a great way to have your nursing one play with other nursing infants, toddlers and children by supporting their journey. Most importantly, while playing with other breastfeeding children; they get to see and experience breastfeeding as a norm for them. 

If you are interested, please email Erin at erin@yogafamily.com with days and times that are best for you.

Are you on Facebook? Then join LLL online!  Many of us have busy lives and can't connect during our meeting times.  Facebook allows you to post a question to fellow breastfeeding mothers and have an instant community when you need support.  We also use it to announce what we are doing that day and if any other like-minded moms want to join in.  Search for LLL of Sturbridge and ask to join!

5th Annual Community Baby Shower is returning this May to Southbridge,MA. Thursday, May 13th from 12:30-4:30pm. The purpose of the Community Baby Shower is to provide children and their families with health and safety information, and social service related information, as well as to promote healthy pregnancies and parenting. Families will have the opportunity to get information about local services available, as well as workshops on pregnancy, health, and child related topics. A variety of workshops will be offered and free gift bag to all expectant/newly parenting families who register. La Leche League of Sturbridge is happy to be participating in it's 5th year - Stop by our booth. Please join in the celebration if you or someone you know is expecting. If you could volunteer for an hour at the La Lache League table, our organization could use the help to reach out other families who choose to breastfeed.
	LLL friend, Jennifer Wilson, mother to Madelyn Wilson, has organize a team for Walk-N-Roll for Spina Bifida, a disease that Little Madelyn has been courageously fighting since she was born.  Their team: Tiny but Tough.
On  May 23, 2010 Endicott Estates in Dedham, MA will be benefiting the Spina Bifida Association of Massachusetts. The Walk-N-Roll for Spina Bifida is a family-friendly, walk event being held in various locations across the country to raise awareness about Spina Bifida and celebrate the accomplishments of the over 180,000 Americans living with it . All proceeds are used for programs and services for people living with Spina Bifida. Jennifer is a great supporter of breastfeeding, sharing many times her adventures in breastfeeding a child with special needs at our meetings.  She is thankful to have such a wonderful breastfeeding relationship with Madelyn and the benefits that have come forth during their hardest times of battling this disease.  You don't have to walk to make a difference - please donate in Madelyn Wilson's name as well as for her team: Tiny but Tough. More info and to donate: http://www.walknrollsbamass.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=340151&lis=1&kntae340151=B2EE98E36CD54DDEAAA734946F79 A4D4&supId=286361481

Items and events in this category are not associated with LLL and are listed here as a service to the community.  If you know of a community event, please email Erin at info@lllsturbridge.org by the first of the month.

Joshua Hyde Library/Sturbridge

Children's Events: http://www.town.sturbridge.ma.us/Public_Documents/SturbridgeMA_LibCal/?FormID=158

Jacob Edwards Library/Southbridge
508-764-5427
Charlton Children's Events:  http://www.charltonlibrary.org/charlton/children.asp

Charlton Public Library
508-248-0452
Children's Events:
http://www.charltonlibrary.org/charlton/children.asp
 

Outreach Play Group
For preschool'ers and siblings, the CPC has three locations of an open style preschools where caregiver and child(ren) play and do crafts.  All groups are facilitated by Sharon Champoux, Infant/Toddler & Preschool certified. Questions or Pre-register by calling 508-867-2232 or email: sinkop@tantasqua.org 

Wales Elementary School – Preschool room Monday (all ages) 9:00 -10:30 am 41 Main Street Wales, MA

Brookfield Elementary School Union 61 Community Partnership room (CPC) Monday 1:00 – 2:00pm Infant/Toddler (pre-registration required) Tuesday (all ages) 1:00 -2:30pm Thursday (all ages) 9:30 -11:00am Brookfield Elementary School 37 Central Street Brookfield

Holland Elementary School – Preschool room Thursday (all ages) 1:00 -2:30pm 28 Sturbridge Road Holland, MA
 

2 Lincoln Street
Brookfield
 508-867-6339
Babytime: Wednesdays 11:00am – 12:00pm
Pre-School story time and singing with Ms. Coro: Fridays 11:30am – 12:00pm
Drop-in Arts & Crafts: Fridays 2:30pm – 4:30pm, all ages welcome to attend.
Yoga for kids: Thursdays 2:00pm.

Would you like to see our LLL group reach out to more mothers and bring more awareness to breastfeeding?  If you have ever thought of volunteering or giving back a small amount of your time while making an amazing shift in our area's thinking, I can not express how rewarding being a Leader is.  For me, it has given me the opportunity to connected with so many amazing mothers and families that they have made me a better mother and wife.  I am truly blessed to be in this community and help support it. If you would like to help support our community and would like to help lead our group, please contact me.

What is our purpose as LLL Leaders?  Leaders know the importance of one mother helping another to recognize and understand the needs of her child and to find the best means of fulfilling those needs. Leaders provide information and support so that each mother can make the decisions which are best for her family.

What does a Leader do? Most Leaders fulfill the basic responsibilities of leadership, which are:
• Helping mothers one-to-one by telephone, email, or in person.
• Planning and leading monthly Series Meetings.
• Supervising the management of the LLL Group.
• Keeping up-to-date on breastfeeding information.
• Upholding the LLL philosophy

LLL Philosophy

Mothering through breastfeeding is the most natural and effective way of understanding and satisfying the needs of the baby. Mother and baby need to be together early and often to establish a satisfying relationship and an adequate milk supply. In the early years, the baby has an intense need to be with his mother which is as basic as his need for food. Breast milk is the superior infant food. For the healthy, full-term baby, breast milk is the only food necessary until baby shows signs of needing solids, about the middle of the first year after birth. Ideally, the breastfeeding relationship will continue until the baby outgrows the need. Alert and active participation by the mother in childbirth is a help in getting breastfeeding off to a good start. Breastfeeding is enhanced and the nursing couple sustained by the loving support, help, and companionship of the baby’s father. A father’s unique relationship with his baby is an important element in the child’s development from early infancy. Good nutrition means eating a well-balanced and varied diet of foods in as close to their natural state as possible. From infancy on, children need loving guidance which reflects acceptance of their capabilities and sensitivity to their feelings.

 

LLL of Worcester holds monthly meetings to help leaders become accredited.  Please email me if you are interested in attending and seeing if leadership is right for you.

 

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	You don't have to join LLL to come to our meetings but by joining LLL of Sturbridge you help support YOUR breastfeeding community.  The $40 LLL Regular Membership  includes a discount in the LLLI Online Store, a subscription to New Beginnings e-Magazine and much more.  To find out more benefits and other levels of membership, visit http://www.llli.org/membership.html.
	New Beginnings e-Magazine Free with a 1 year membership - LLL Online Bi-Monthly magazine is filled with valuable information on breastfeeding and mother-to-mother sharing.
Please mail it directly to our group as your money will be directly contributing to your local community.  You can send check made out to LLL of Sturbridge, MA and mail it to PO Box 523, Sturbridge, MA 01566.