March 3, 2004
Conference presents wise health advice
Family Wisdom program features activities for parents and children
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Parents and families will have a smorgasbord of information and choices Saturday at the Family Wisdom Conference.
Scheduled for Saturday at Northwestern Michigan College, the conference features sessions on topics ranging from newborn care and the midwifery model of childbirth to natural approaches to ADD/ADHD treatment and a chiropractic approach to family wellness.
The Northern Michigan Breastfeeding Coalition, Michigan State University Extension and Parents as Teachers are sponsoring the all-day conference. The event is divided into three sessions, each offering five choices of topics.
"The goal is to offer a blend of mainstream parenting with alternative healthcare kinds of stuff," said Bonnie Marquis, an educator in the Parents as Teachers program. "The theme is if you don't know your options you don't have any. That's what we're kind of all about, is inviting people to come and learn about a whole variety of options that they may have not known about before."
In addition to the educational or hands-on sessions, the conference will feature a variety of booths from area businesses, practitioners and programs.
This year, the conference also includes a parent-child option during each of the three sessions. Parents and their children can participate in music and movement with Kat Brown, yoga with Libby Robold or a hands-on exploratory session led by staff from the MSU Extension.
"I think the most exciting part, that's different from our first conference, is these sessions for parents and children together," said Carrie Bourdages, the public relations co-chair for the Family Wisdom Conference. "One I can't wait for is yoga for kids. I think what it's going to provide for parents is information they can take home and use again and again."
Midwife Kathi Mulder is one of the event's organizers. Since moving here from Lansing with her family six and a half years ago, Mulder has seen a growing awareness of and interest in alternative childbirth and parenting approaches.
"Parents are seeking information on ways to take the lead and not only be their child's first educator but also be the first line of defense when they are sick," Mulder said. "Also, parents are looking at preventative measures, asking, 'How can I keep my child healthy?' and therefore they are looking at nutrition and lifestyle."
This year's Family Wisdom Conference has avoided the controversy that prompted organizers to cancel it last year.
Scheduled for last May at Central Grade School, a pro-life activist expressed her concerns to TCAPS superintendent James Pavelka about a sponsor, Rising Star Wellness Center. Grand Traverse Area Right to Life president Peggy Stinnet said the organization believes this clinic provides medical abortions. Declining to involve the district in this controversial topic, Pavelka cancelled the district's sponsorship and organizers called off the event.
In 2004, organizers are offering a wide range of topics that provide unusual solutions or approaches to family or parenting issues, but none are lightening rods of controversy.
"In general, we really try to have a well-rounded conference and as it expands and grows we really would like to serve children of all ages," Bourdages said. "We want to serve the heart, mind and spirit, provide something that really speaks to the whole person."
"We've been so motivated by the community support for this conference, which has been very helpful for our morale," Bourdages added. "We're all moms and community members and believe this is important information."
The Family Wisdom Conference will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday at the Northwestern Michigan College Scholar's Hall. Admission price is $5 per person and $10 per family. For more information or to register, call 922-6896.