Melanie Taylor
I am a woman, a wife, a friend, a sister, a daughter, a mentor, a leader, a teacher, and a mom.
My son, Escher, was born in February 2009. I remember, before I was pregnant, saying that I would definitely be getting an epidural when I gave birth one day. I took Advil at the slightest hint of a headache, why on earth would I go through the pain of childbirth? When I was four months pregnant I bought "The Birth Book" by Dr. William Sears and Martha Sears in a toy store in Boston. This book opened my eyes to why people choose natural child birth (it turns out it's not because they're absolutely insane, I as originally thought). I then took a child birth class that reinforced the information in The Birth Book. Little did I know that one of the instructors would one day be my business partner...
My son foiled my plans, as children often do. He was breech at 39 weeks and after trying chiropractic adjustments and an ECV (external cephalic version - ouch!), I opted for a scheduled c-section. Quite the opposite of the natural birth I had been hoping for.
I had planned to breastfeed, but was worried because I knew that a c-section put me at a disadvantage. Thankfully a combination of my birth class education, "Dr. Jack Newman's Guide to Breastfeeding," and my wonderful midwife, Natalie, resulted in breastfeeding success. I breastfed my son until he was 18 months old.
A few months after Escher was born I started to attend "The Vesta Resource and Wellness Centre", which is what the current Vesta Parenting Centre is modeled on. I was intimidated, at first, to show up at a place where I didn't know anyone. It quickly became my second home, a place where I met friends and a place that helped me keep my sanity (apparently I wasn't the only one who wished there was a return policy).
When "the old Vesta" was closing I went to help co-owner Shawn De Vree pack boxes. Instead of packing we chatted and laid the groundwork for what is now the Vesta Parenting Centre and Vesta Shop. I knew how important Vesta had been for me - giving me a place to go when I wanted to get out of the house and talk to people, a comfortable place to exercise with Escher beside me where the other women understood if he started crying, and a place where it was okay to be struggling and need some advice (even if I didn't take it) - and I wanted to make sure that other women had a similar place.
I have two degrees in Civil Engineering. I worked for six years in Health and Safety, Wellness, and Quality in a manufacturing facility. To those who don't know me this would seem like a weird place to end up. But if you know me you know that my greatest passions in life are learning and community service. I also love to teach. At Vesta I get to learn every day about people, parenting, relationships, and resilience. And I get to share my experiences and knowledge, in hopes that it might help another person feel better about themselves or their choices. I get to help people by providing breastfeeding support or just providing an ear.
I think I am "normal", whatever that may be. I sometimes make my bed. My kitchen is rarely clean. I eat at Mc Donald's. I make sure I give my child hugs and kisses every day. I don't exercise vigorously three times a week, but I think about it. I'm funny (okay, I think I'm funny). I cloth diapered for a year, but never at night. I stopped breastfeeding because I was ready to have my body back. I volunteer when I can. I love to organize, but my house is a mess. I like to smile. I have thought many times about throwing my child in a composter. I like getting dressed up one day and wearing jeans and a t-shirt the next. I have to sleep with a cover on me so as to not get eaten by the things under my bed. I am environmentally conscious about 74% of the time. I watch Gossip Girl and 90210. I don't like whole grain pasta and won't eat it just because it's good for me. I have been known to spend hours on end surfing the internet (when I should really be exercising vigorously). And I make mistakes (shh, don't tell my husband).
