WANTED: A Baby-Sitter (So I Can Get A Seat At The Table)

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Dear community organization, delagate task force, coalition, board committee, legislative discussion,  and/or panel and planning chairperson,

I am here! I have implementable ideas to make your business, our laws, and my community better! If you could just provide an after school pick up, paid time off so I can afford daycare, meal prep service since I will not be home to prepare our meal on time due to our meeting, and on site daycare, I am your right hand (wo)man!
 
When important issues arise in the area of maternal health, community involvement, child welfare, health insurance policy, food security and quality, wages, senior care, public transit and transportation, or even television programming, I am your target audience and can provide valuable feedback! Who better to help improve maternal health than a mother herself?
 
I am available to meet at 8:15 pm in the bathroom while I am cleaning up the toys. Oh wait — that doesn’t work for you? Why not? I not only live and foster my family in this community, but I kind of created it! A conference call is best, anytime between 9pm and 1am depending on when my youngest falls asleep, but we will have to whisper. Child welfare is my primary job and primal instinct! I need health insurance to keep my family well. I buy and prepare FOODS! I can speak to food quality measures with you at 11:30 pm when I am sitting at the edge of my bed looking at tomorrow’s neverending To-Do List before attempting to sleep.
 
Wages, senior care, and transportation may not be the top priorities in your life, Chairperson, however, when you take time out of work to drive a family member to an appointment you want roads in top condition so you get back to work ASAP as to not lose those wages! I have plenty to consult on you with. I’d like to schedule a debriefing at 6:15 am right before I dart for my 5 minute allotment of shower time. No, I cannot meet you at noon on a Monday, I work through lunch so I can have breaks to pump breastmilk. No, I cannot meet you Tuesday at 5pm -school pick-up takes 1 hour to complete, we get home at 6pm;(and no earlier). No, I can not meet you on Thursday at 7pm;– that is bath time (please read toy clean up time above). I can meet on Saturday, at 11ish am, in a kid friendly place, where food is served. We will be in our pajamas. Did I say 11ish? I will most likely be there by noon.
 

I am a mother. Every charity, cause, foundation, or movement can inevitably be traced back to my life. CEOs, politicians, and doctors are all making decisions to help or hinder me, and I have no seat at the table. I have plenty to contribute, and I have a lot to say. I can help. I WANT to help. On second thought, maybe I need more than one seat at the table, because if you can’t get me a baby-sitter, I’ll have to bring my children along. Otherwise, YOU miss out.

 

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Shay
Shaylene was born and raised in Providence RI (although her family moved around a bit) and usually just shouting out "Shay!" will get you what you need. She loves to serve her community one caregiver at a time, whether it be through breastfeeding support, babywearing education, play dates, online chats, or just a coffee run! Shay has what she needs to fill her cup and LOVES to serve from her abundance! Volunteering is her personal passion, and her job as a medical professional means that her worlds often collide in a glorious fashion; no matter where she goes there are happy people all around her. An independent mother of 2, you can usually find Shay with her two (royal) daughters she has affectionately dubbed the Duchess and Lady of her home. Together, they work hard so they can play harder on the weekends! Welcome to her world... she hopes Providence Mom readers are ready to enjoy the ride!