March 9, 2005
Wise choices for area parents
Family Wisdom Conference covers health care issues
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
For parents and parents to be interested in options, the Family Wisdom Conference was the place to be Saturday.
More than 200 parents and children gathered in Scholars Hall at Northwestern Michigan College for a day of seminars on all facets of parenting.
Topics began at pregnancy and birth including discussions on midwifery, water birth, adjusting to motherhood and the childbearing year. Parents of babies and toddlers could learn sign language for babies, discover alternatives to antibiotics and gather information on vaccination issues. Other topics included reading, homeschooling, nutrition, preparing a herbal first aid kit and the wellness lifestyle.
"Another popular session was preventing childhood obesity," noted Kathi Mulder, a certified professional midwife who helped organize the conference. "Many people are worried about it because it is a growing condition amongst our young people and there has definitely been quite a bit in the news and the media about it."
The conference also included activities for both parents and toddlers, including yoga and creative movement. Penny Krebiehl of Maple City, founder and director of Little Artshram, guided children as they talked about their favorite birds, acted out bird movements and read stories about birds. Her theme of recycled art had children and parents using cardboard, glue, staples and fabric strips to make a chicken mask they could take home.
"I love the idea that you can come here with your child and do things together," said Liz Williams, who attended the session with her husband, Dave, and daughter, Jessie, 3 «. "We did music with Kat Brown, yoga and had lunch together, it's a real family event."
This is the third year of the Family Wisdom Conference and attendance has grown every year.
"I think it was a good blend of people who came because they had been here before and wanted to learn more and also people who heard about it for the first time and were really questing for the information," noted Mulder, who presented two sessions on birth. "I don't think there is a similar option in the area right now."
The conference also featured a room of booths on a range of natural parenting-related topics, including chiropractic care, aromatherapy, Waldorf education, breastfeeding and herbs. Organizations such as the Doula Teen Parent Program, the Great Lakes Bioneers, Planned Parenthood and the Pregnancy Care Center were also represented.
The all day conference included a lunch prepared by Java Jones of Elk Rapids. In keeping with the nutritional themes of various presenters, it was a healthy one that included hummus sandwiches for adults, peanut butter and jelly on whole wheat bread for kids, plus fruits and healthy snacks.
"Not just give lip service [to a healthy lifestyle] but to live the practice of it," Mulder noted.
Bonnie Marquis of Ann Arbor, a former resident of the area, drove up to attend her third Family Wisdom Conference. Keeping up with her young, active daughter, Kyleigh, 14 months, prevented her from attending some of the sessions, but she was glad she came anyway.
"I came to do a couple of sessions on music and movement with my daughter," she said, adding about the range of topics: "It is hard to find this information, to find the actual person to talk about it with. You can find it on the Internet but it's not the same as a real person."
Organizers were pleased with the number of dads who came to the conference and attended sessions and participated in activities with their children. Williams agreed that having Jessie's father along made the day extra special.
"When we go do things during the week, he's at work and can't come along." she said.