Welcome (again) to July ICLW at Your Great Life

Hi there,

Thank you to those who commented this month for July's ICLW at Your Great Life. My Welcome letter is reprinted below as I am still working on the topics introduced there and want to keep them fresh. See you in August, though I very much hope you will pop in for a visit and a comment between now and then.

Lisa

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I'm feeling really great to have already received a good number of ICLW visits and comments today, despite not having posted a welcome until just now.  I seem to have struck a note with my series of blog posts on how single fathers can take on or improve their knowledge, communication and availability regarding body issues relating to their pre-teen and teenage daughters.  Quite a few of you have told me that your mothers weren't particularly open or instructive about personal hygiene, skin care, first bras, shaving or lightening of body hair. There is no reason that mothers can't benefit from these blog posts too, so if you know anyone who isn't coping well with this area of parenting, please send them the link. The next one in the series will be menstruation...awaiting the first period and learning the best way to manage periods.

Don't worry; I'm not moving away from the areas of infertility and conception. My mind is working laterally.  My primary purpose is to give women of all ages, and men too, a knowledge of, and respect for, their bodies and how they work SO THAT they can maximize good reproductive health and have the best chance of having families of choice, when they are ready to do so. Even my personal experiences, having the benefits of:

1. Sex education and Health classes at Junior High School and University;
2. communicative, instructive and supportive parents;
3. an annual (actually once or twice yearly) well-woman exam by a gynaecologist since the age of 17 (initially set up by my mother and continued by me);
4. the ability to talk to friends about our bodies (comparing notes is a very useful way to learn) and sex; and
5. a culture of preventive medicine that keeps me on top of changes in my body or its functions;

I was amazed to learn what I did not know about my body, fertility, pregnancy and childbirth when I ran into my own reproductive health problems in my 30s.  As a fertility advocate, I would like to help other people remedy that situation so they can take personal responsibility for their own health, the emotions and decision-making that appear in the context of fertility.

Awareness, education and communication are key to getting people the help they need to live healthy lives, conceive and eventually, parent. However, just as important is the ability to do this all while feeing good about yourself and how you are coping with life's challenges. If you know anyone who would benefit from fertility coaching, either individually via office or phone sessions, or on one of my group courses, please give them my contact details:

Email - lisa@yourgreatlife.co.uk

Phone (internationally) - 011 - 44 - 208 954 2897 London is on Greenwich Mean Time. Please check the time before dialling. (I can usually phone you for sessions.)

Phone (within the UK) - Landline 020 8954 2897 or Mobile 0777 909 1466

My office calendar can be arranged through Reception at the Stanmore Chiropractic Clinic, Stanmore, Middlesex, UK. Telephone - 020 8954 8311.

Comments

[Jill]

Hi, here via ICLW. Your blog seems like a wonderful resource that I will be sure to come back to again. Thanks!

[Michelle]

Lisa ... You are doing such important work here. I remember being so stunned at how much I didn't know about my body when I was trying to conceive.
Best,
Michelle (ICLW #144)

[A]

Here from ICLW. I just discovered your blog, and I love it. Thank you!!!

[Lisa]

Hi Jill,

I'm really glad to hear that you found the blog and want to come back. I'm always open to suggestions, if you have a topic you would like to see explored here.

[Lisa]

Hi A,
I love that word "love" when it come s to my blog! Thanks. Please drop in again.

[Lisa]

Hi Michelle,

It sounds like we were both in blissful ignorance until we ran into problems. The female body should come with a manual! I would try to write it, but I'd need the help of several thousand experts. I'm still learning myself.

In the meantime, I hope to continue being an important resource. Thanks so much for that compliment.

[Krissi]

I think it's awesome what you're doing here! Information is key to everything so the younger the better! Happy ICLW! (#45 & 46)

[Suzy]

~Happy ICLW~