Postpartum Doula in Asheville
Donation protected
Jalila Simmons is becoming a postpartum doula . And the Simmons family is moving to Asheville, North Carolina . This sudden change in direction is, in many ways, as surprising to us as it will be to you, our family and friends. It also feels right as we are embarking on new endeavors in our personal/professional lives.
If you are familiar with my wife at all, you know how effortlessly she connects with people. She has an inviting smile and a manner that immediately makes you a friend. Her ability to connect is not just a talent, but also one of her deepest values.
In the past year, Jalila has decided that she needs to utilize this talent by helping new mothers to recover from pregnancy and to find their confidence and voice as mothers.
What is a postpartum doula? A non-medical caregiver who supports the new mother after delivery, during the ‘fourth trimester’. It is work that requires a caring touch. I know that she will be great at it.
Too often we hear stories in the news about mothers who have hurt themselves or their children as a result of the feeling of hopelessness that can result from postpartum depression. Too seldom are the steps taken that are necessary to help every women with the recovery of her physical health as well as the hormonal imbalances that are inevitable with an experience as dramatic (and traumatic) as childbirth. Subjects such as Pregnancy Loss and the resulting grief are hardly ever approached because few know how.
Asheville offers an opportunity for Jalila to practice in a smaller market that will allow her more opportunity to contribute to the community. Asheville has a diverse population that has a reputation for its creativity and openness to integrative medicine and holistic healing modalities.
It is a transition that we expect will be challenging for our three younger children. We feel the change of pace and scenery will suit them over time, however. We are looking forward to getting the kids on their bikes more often, hike through the mountains, get their hands dirty in our own vegetable garden and just all around experience life differently. If you are a part of our Yu Ying family we will miss you extremely! We hope that video chats in Mandarin can be a regular occurrence.
Kai, meanwhile, has completed high school. He received the Headmaster’s Award for having through their goodwill, personal example, and effort been a force for good in the School. We are very proud of him for the work he’s done and excited for the decisions he’s made for what’s to come.
Kai has chosen to stay here in Washington, DC for the year while he works on a few things. He is doing wonderfully in the work world as a host for a local restaurant at Eastern Market . But he will be starting the fall working for City Year and plans to eventually attend the Air Force Academy. We’re confident he will have family and friends to continue supporting him here after we leave and look forward to him spending holidays with us down South.
As for me, I have prospective clients in the Asheville area and will continue to commute back to Washington for work during the busy election cycle to come. I’m interested in taking on more independent film projects once the family gets settled in.
Please help us make a "soft landing" or a smooth transition as we need help with finding a new home and transportation getting us all down there. In order to make this work, we need a second vehicle and to get our first car in shape for the trip. Plus, we want to have housing already lined up so we can focus on the kids adjusting; not scrambbling to make ends meet. There are any number of logistics envolved with moving our household. Our savings are soon to be exhausted and we are still in the beginnng phases of execution in this move.
We will be a presence here in our home town as well. Both of our families are here in DC. And as I said before, I still have clients here that I will be traveling for.
But we are all looking forward to the change of pace, becoming more outdoorsy, and meeting some great new neighbors. We hitch up our wagon and head South August 23rd.
Thank you for your love, encouragement and support.
Love,
Sean (and Ananda, Tao, Kai, Nazir and Jalila)
If you are familiar with my wife at all, you know how effortlessly she connects with people. She has an inviting smile and a manner that immediately makes you a friend. Her ability to connect is not just a talent, but also one of her deepest values.
In the past year, Jalila has decided that she needs to utilize this talent by helping new mothers to recover from pregnancy and to find their confidence and voice as mothers.
What is a postpartum doula? A non-medical caregiver who supports the new mother after delivery, during the ‘fourth trimester’. It is work that requires a caring touch. I know that she will be great at it.
Too often we hear stories in the news about mothers who have hurt themselves or their children as a result of the feeling of hopelessness that can result from postpartum depression. Too seldom are the steps taken that are necessary to help every women with the recovery of her physical health as well as the hormonal imbalances that are inevitable with an experience as dramatic (and traumatic) as childbirth. Subjects such as Pregnancy Loss and the resulting grief are hardly ever approached because few know how.
Asheville offers an opportunity for Jalila to practice in a smaller market that will allow her more opportunity to contribute to the community. Asheville has a diverse population that has a reputation for its creativity and openness to integrative medicine and holistic healing modalities.
It is a transition that we expect will be challenging for our three younger children. We feel the change of pace and scenery will suit them over time, however. We are looking forward to getting the kids on their bikes more often, hike through the mountains, get their hands dirty in our own vegetable garden and just all around experience life differently. If you are a part of our Yu Ying family we will miss you extremely! We hope that video chats in Mandarin can be a regular occurrence.
Kai, meanwhile, has completed high school. He received the Headmaster’s Award for having through their goodwill, personal example, and effort been a force for good in the School. We are very proud of him for the work he’s done and excited for the decisions he’s made for what’s to come.
Kai has chosen to stay here in Washington, DC for the year while he works on a few things. He is doing wonderfully in the work world as a host for a local restaurant at Eastern Market . But he will be starting the fall working for City Year and plans to eventually attend the Air Force Academy. We’re confident he will have family and friends to continue supporting him here after we leave and look forward to him spending holidays with us down South.
As for me, I have prospective clients in the Asheville area and will continue to commute back to Washington for work during the busy election cycle to come. I’m interested in taking on more independent film projects once the family gets settled in.
Please help us make a "soft landing" or a smooth transition as we need help with finding a new home and transportation getting us all down there. In order to make this work, we need a second vehicle and to get our first car in shape for the trip. Plus, we want to have housing already lined up so we can focus on the kids adjusting; not scrambbling to make ends meet. There are any number of logistics envolved with moving our household. Our savings are soon to be exhausted and we are still in the beginnng phases of execution in this move.
We will be a presence here in our home town as well. Both of our families are here in DC. And as I said before, I still have clients here that I will be traveling for.
But we are all looking forward to the change of pace, becoming more outdoorsy, and meeting some great new neighbors. We hitch up our wagon and head South August 23rd.
Thank you for your love, encouragement and support.
Love,
Sean (and Ananda, Tao, Kai, Nazir and Jalila)
Organizer
Jalila Simmons
Organizer
Washington D.C., DC
