Tick, Tick, Tick… As I sat up one morning recently rocking my 17 month old son, I was reminded of my time just over a year ago when I dreaded this part of each day: sitting up, rocking, listening to the clock tick off the seconds, and longing for the birds to start chirping to let me know morning was on it’s way. Before my son was born, we suffered a miscarriage, and this whole pregnancy had been anxiety-ridden. Being high-risk and having an emergency c-section added to the stress, and then came the difficulty breastfeeding and the severe reflux. Add in sleep deprivation, and you have a recipe for Postpartum Depression and Anxiety (a.k.a. Postpartum Mood Disorders, PMD). I knew something wasn’t right with me about two weeks into being a new mom, and my fabulous lactation consultant encouraged me to seek help. I saw my OB, started on medication, and followed my lactation consultant’s “homework” to attend Moms Supporting Moms (MSM), a local support group for PMD.
At MSM, I found the support and encouragement of moms who were suffering like I was, along with trained peer facilitators and medical professionals who helped me know I was not crazy and it would get better. I was not alone. I lived for the 7:00-8:30pm Thursday night meetings and the chance to get out of the house and see my new mom friends who understood being a new mom was TOUGH! And I began to see the fog lift with the support of my husband, family and friends, medication, and the wonderful mentors and new friends at MSM!
MSM is organized by Postpartum Education and Support (PES can be found at pesnc.org or 919-454-6946), a local non-profit dedicated to the emotional wellness of mothers. If you or someone you know is suffering from PMD, please contact PES. PMD does not always look like what we often think of as typical depression, and the PES website gives more information. They offer weekly support groups that meet next to Rex Hospital in Raleigh, and even offer quarterly “Dads Nights” to help them understand what their partners’ are going through and offer them support for PMD as well! Did you know Dads can suffer from PMD?
As my fog and anxiety began to lift, I wanted find a business opportunity to give me an outlet for the creative side of my personality that longed to talk about something besides just spit-up and poopy diapers. I felt like a Direct Sales company would offer me the flexibility I was looking for to stay home and work, and I began searching the Direct Sales Association (dsa.org) website for ideas. I found Celadon Road and liked what the company stood for. Celadon Road is dedicated to promoting greener, healthier, and more socially responsible living with products for your home and family that are natural, organic, and eco-friendly. We also offer Fair Trade items that provide a living wage for the artisans in developing nations. With skin care, cleaning products, baby items, soaps and lotions, jewelry, gifts, pet products and more, I was hooked. I joined the Celadon Road family, having never tried the products (crazy, I know!) and have just fallen in LOVE! Plus I love the products, so it’s a great fit for me! I am celebrating my one-year anniversary this April along with the company’s 5th Birthday!
One of the things I love about Celadon Road is that we are encouraged to give back. For every party hosted, the company donates a pair of shoes to Soles for Souls and plants a tree with Trees for the Future. We also donate 1% of our sales to a charity of the consultants’ choice. I also am personally donating 1% of my own sales to PES in gratitude for the support I received during a very difficult period in my life. This past summer I became a Peer Facilitator with PES, as well, and love the chance to offer support and encouragement to new parents! 
If you would like to help PES continue to give back to families in our community, I invite you to join us for our Annual StrollerThon on May 18th at 9am at Bond Park in Cary. This fun two mile walk includes games, entertainment, face painting, lots of Raffle prizes, and will be emceed by WRAL’s Linda Loveland. It’s $20/adult and $5/children 6-12, with a family maximum of $50. Registration Information can be found at pesnc.org. JOIN US and share PES’s information with any friends or families you know suffering from PMD. You are not alone!
Let’s Take The Green Path together!
Suzanne Miller
Senior Eco-Consultant with Celadon Road
TakeTheGreenPath@gmail.com
919-815-7861
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