lil omm is thrilled to welcome Sharon Curry IBCLC of the Holistic Mothering Group. An experienced lactation counselor, registered nurse, and mother she brings many years of experience to lil omm. Sharon will be leading a monthly Mother’s Breastfeeding Support group on Monday May 13, June 10, and July 8 @ 2pm.
Mothers are encouraged to bring their babies of all ages, to connect with other mothers, ask questions and find support for breastfeeding related challenges. A baby scale will also be provided for weigh-ins.
The cost is $10 per parent/child pair. Register here.
What’s your “story”?
I am the mother of two sweet baby boys who have grown taller than me and have giant stinky feet. You think diapers are bad? Wait til you have teenaged boys! I am proud of the fact that I have, so far, successfully parented them, but at 12 & 15 I think we are about to see if all that nurturing will pay off. Though they are horrified when I speak of it, my boys lead me to my current career as a Lactation Consultant. I breastfed both of them and enjoyed the support of other mothers so I got involved with La Leche League of DC. I quickly realized that mothers need other mothers and became a LLL Leader. One of the other mothers told me I was a great volunteer, but “you need to get paid for this!” So I applied my background as a registered nurse & became an IBCLC—International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. I have worked in home care & area hospitals–though I don’t really like the hospital setting—I had my babies at home 
—and last year, through Holistic Mothering Group, I started transitioning my lactation practice to the home setting. However, I have not yet given up my work in the hospital; it’s hard to let go of all the wonderful people who work in those places!
What inspires you?
I am inspired by the quiet beauty of nature. I am inspired by trying something new. I am inspired by really good ideas, especially the simple things that make you say, “Why didn’t I think of that!” (Like putting the cream into the coffee cup first so it mixes perfectly from the first sip without dirtying a spoon—my brother taught me this.)
What would you do with an entire Saturday afternoon to yourself?
I’d start with an easy yoga class to get all relaxed, then go for a walk with my dog somewhere in the woods (and he’d be really well behaved, I could let him off leash & he’d come right back when I called—it’s a fantasy, right?). Then, I’d go home and organize my craft closet. Just as I finish my family would come home with treats from a bakery and we’d sit on the patio and eat them before dinner.
What’s the best part of running your own business?
Holistic Mothering Group is a band of like-minded lactation consultants and childbirth educators who believe women need to be educated so they can be empowered to try to have the birth & breastfeeding outcomes they desire. Besides my awesome co-workers in Holistic Mothering, I like best the freedom to carry through with my creative ideas. I don’t have to jump through a million hoops. If I want to try something, or add something, or change something, I just do it. It doesn’t always work, but at least I got to act on my inspiration.
What is a typical day like for you?
Wake up earlier than I’d like, coffee, get the kids & hubby off to school & work. Check e-mail. Work on a project for Holistic Mothering, remember to walk the dog, back to the computer, maybe see a patient, maybe teach a class, kids come home, drive them to activities, check e-bay for baby dolls (it’s an addiction, I can’t stop myself), pick up from activities, dinner, maybe teach a class, or go to a meeting, fall asleep reading a book. Or maybe I worked at the hospital that day, came home & knit some boobies while watching a movie. If I’m lucky, someone else made dinner that day. Kind of boring, but I like it.
What’s something AWESOME you do with your kids?
Besides laundry? With my kids, not for my kids…. We like to travel. They are (finally) at an age where it is FUN to go new places; they can eat food in restaurants, navigate airports, read the map & get us around. They are excited & interested. They carry my suitcase & lift all manner of heavy things. It is useful to have strong boys around you at all times.
Any mentors/ teachers you’d like to give a shout out to?
Salley, my LLL Co-Leader for 12 years. She has been a LLL volunteer for 20 years. Her kids are moving out & getting married & she’s still out there helping the new moms. She taught me that moms need help to learn how to nurture their families; so many things can undermine your family without you even realizing that it is happening. Salley taught me (& many others) to put people before things and “If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy”!
