A Mother's Haven

I’m not a very good dancer. I never really learned how to dance and I’m a little uncomfortable dancing when other people are around. I also can’t sing. My mean, terrible, horrible sister told me I had a lousy voice when we were little and I just stopped singing all together. I love my sister and she’s not really mean, terrible or horrible, but she’s my sister so also she is. I can’t play any musical instruments. I wanted to be good at playing an instrument and in elementary school, I played the flute for two years, but I really wanted to play the drums. After those two years I lost interest in playing an instrument and never went back to try anything else. I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY hope my kids dance in public like there is no one around, sing loud & proud and find an instrument that they love and feel in their heart. The benefits for children of dancing, singing, playing and listening to music are profound. Dancing helps toddlers develop their gross motor skills, pr...

The birth of your new baby is a very rewarding experience, but it can also be a challenge.  New parents often report extreme emotions; high highs, low lows and inevitable anxieties.  Life changes drastically and you are suddenly responsible for a new little person who depends on your physical, emotional and cognitive stability.  This change can be difficult.  Before baby arrived, your attention was focused on yourself and your partner.  Now you must focus a significant amount of time and attention on your baby, leaving less time for you and others. A Good Mommy and Me Class can help smooth the transition into parenthood.  The benefits can be significant for both Mom and Baby. Mommy and Me benefits for Mom and Baby . Just Get Out! Taking a class and participating in activities together outside the home will help strengthen the bond between you and your baby.  Inside the home the mundane tasks required for daily life can make focused bonding time a...

You've heard it so many times before... it takes a village to raise a child! Well it does... sort of. We know that your first year with your baby is challenging - You're tired, overwhelmed, and confused - This is where Mothers' Gathering comes in. Whether this baby is your first or fourth, we offer classes that are catered to your specific needs. It's about building a community. This class can help alleviate those feelings of loneliness - even if you have family or friends around, you can feel alone in this journey as a new mom. Allow yourself the chance to get support from people who truly understand what you're going through. You will make friends for life. Mothers' Gathering provides the opportunity for your little one to find a new buddy, and most importantly, for you to build lasting friendship with other moms. These friendships will undoubtedly make a tremendous impact on your journey through motherhood. Much more than a "Mommy and Me...

You've survived 9 months of pregnancy. You've made it through the excitement of labor and delivery, and now you're ready to head home and begin life with your baby. Woohoo! Except you get home and frantically realize you have no idea what you're doing! We know that your first year with your baby is challenging - You're tired, overwhelmed, and confused - This is where Mothers' Gathering comes in. Whether this baby is your first or fourth, we offer classes that are catered to your specific needs. Still wondering if Mothers' Gathering is right for you? Here's a list of just a few of the benefits... It is a great bonding activity. Parent and child classes offer a wonderful opportunity for bonding, which ultimately provides a sense of security and fosters a positive self esteem. Bonding is necessary to help your little one grow and flourish. In a mommy and me class, you will interact together and participate in similar activities that will promote bond...

Sign language is a great way to help you communicate with your pre-verbal baby. It helps babies that are ready to communicate, but can’t quite bridge the gap to full speech yet. Imagine how your life would be different if your baby could tell you what he or she is thinking! Signing with babies has numerous benefits - not to mention, it's a lot of fun and helps you bond with your child. Babies that sign are often less fussy because they're able to communicate what they want in ways other than crying. Research also shows that babies that utilize sign language get a great start in life – with increased vocabularies and more advanced cognitive skills, even years after they have stopped signing. Our Sign Language for Babies (SLFB): a 6-week interactive series includes: * An overview of language development * Over 50 American Sign Language (ASL) signs * Easy ways to incorporate signing into your daily routine * Fun songs and activities to facilitate the learning of sign...

Our Mothers' Gathering (Mommy and Me) groups are a wonderful way to get the information, support, and community you need during that first year with your baby - but don't just take our word for it!  :-) " I credit my sanity during the first 6 months after my son was born to my Mothers' Gathering class at A Mother's Haven . The teacher (Jill) was an incredible resource of information. Her sweet but straightforward disposition makes her feel like your best friend/sister/mom all rolled into one. I also met the most amazing group of women , and we all became fast friends. Three years later, we still meet up for playdates, birthday parties, and girls' nights! I am forever grateful for this invaluable experience, and I highly recommend it to all new moms I meet." -Tami, mom of Guy, 3 and Zoe, almost 2 "When I had my first child, I attended Mothers' Gathering (Mommy&Me) at A Mother's Haven . It was a fabulous experience for me and my ...

The recommendations include moderate to vigorous exercise through your pregnancy, including cardio and some weight training.  Prenatal yoga and pilates are wonderful ways to start (or continue) working out while you are pregnant. Our current Prenatal/Postnatal Yoga  schedule is: Mondays 7pm Thursdays 6pm Call us at (818) 380-3111 to reserve your spot in class! Visit us at: 16101 Ventura Blvd. Suite 230 Encino, CA. 91436 p. (818) 380-3111 w.  shopthehaven.com

We have a lot of moms who are interested in helping their babies to communicate more and maybe taking the Sign Language for Babies class , but might not be familiar with Baby Sign Language or might have heard different things about signing with babies. So we wanted to write up some answers to the questions that many moms have. Feel free to email us at info@shopthehaven.com with other questions that you think we should add to this list or just something that you want to know personally. Why should I sign with my baby? Isn't sign language only used with deaf or hard-of-hearing kids? My baby's ears are just fine. Babies and toddlers have a lot to say before they can actually say it! By using signs with your baby, you can help them to communicate their wants, needs, and interests before they can speak. The tiny muscles in the tongue & mouth are very hard for little ones to control, but the larger muscles of the arms and hands are easier to use, so most babies are able to st...

We're starting video series to explain common questions that new moms have.  Our first video is about how to put together all of the pump parts for your Medela Symphony hospital-grade pump - from the membrane caps, to the tubing, to the breastshields and bottles.  All those little parts can be a bit confusing, especially when you're a sleep-deprived new mom!  So watch the video and see how everything fits together! We rent out the Medela Symphony hospital-grade pumps on a weekly or monthly basis. Rental pumps are only $75 per month. We also sell all of the extra parts  including (but not limited to) tubing, bottles, freezer bags, etc. Whatever questions you have about your pump, come on in and we'll help you out! If you have more questions about milk supply, how to manage pumping & going back to work, etc, come in for our Breastfeeding & Pumping Support Group on Tuesday mornings at 10am. Only $10 for drop-in! We're also going to be making s...

We know that your first year with your baby is extremely hard! You're tired, overwhelmed, and confused - that's why we're here! Much more than a "Mommy and Me" class, our Mothers' Gathering classes are Education & Support groups for thinking moms who are looking for information, support, & friendship. Not a just baby group, or a class where moms will be told how to parent their child, but a place to gather the information and tools to determine what fits best for each mom and her child. Our philosophy is that there is no one "right way" to parent and what works for you might not work for another mother. And what might work one week, might not work the next. We give you tips and strategies for your parenting tool box, helping you to find confidence in your parenting skills and choices. Our Mothers' Gathering (Mommy & Me) groups are a wonderful way to get the information, support, and community you need during that first year w...