Community- 4.7.08

From the Baby Boot Camp Portland Metro April Newsletter

Community....

Unfortunately the bully from last month, who pushed me off the swing, had two bigger pushes I didn't know about. He pushed me so HARD with BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM that I didn't know what hit me and was thrown into survival mode. Last month I got pneumonia, and then my infant Emerson had RSV. Emerson also had pneumonia and was treated for pertusis, which meant she had to go to the hospital for almost 2 weeks. During that time, my Dad was rushed to the hospital with unexpected heart issues requiring him to get a pace maker. All this while, I was also trying to make the hospital fun for Makenzie. It can be done and actually provided some family memories I will never forget. Sneaking beer on St.Patrick's Day in Rm #470, Easter Egg hunting throughout the ward, doing lunges down the hallway, having nurses laugh when they caught me doing my own aerobic workout in Emerson's room...but the survival mode Jack and I were thrown into wouldn't have been possible without the community of Baby Boot Camp.

When I first started my Baby Boot Camp business 3 years ago, I had a goal of creating phenomenal exercise classes for Moms(and Dads) that were inviting and encouraging. My goal was to focus on helping Moms improve their self esteem through athletics. I also wanted to create an active support community for parents in the Portland Metro Area, providing activities that were fun for all and incorporated into the city's many events. While having the goal to do this for all the Moms in Baby Boot Camp, I guess I was also doing it for myself.

As a Mom, business owner, athlete, uber energetic type-a gal I have a tough time asking for and accepting help. It is probably more common amongst many Moms than any of us will admit. The inability to ask for help is what showed me what a huge community has developed through classes. I didn't have to ask, the help came to me and told me I couldn't say "no". A group of dear Baby Boot Camp Moms and the phenomenal Baby Boot Camp Team, put together a whole support network in place for my family. They sat me down and said that I was not allowed to say no to help. They created "to do lists", playdates for Makenzie and had everything in order before we left the hospital. This ability to tell me I have no choice but to accept help led me to realize again how genuine and incredible the Baby Boot Camp community is.

Over the years I have been elated to see tons of playgroups formed from classes, hear Moms in class plan events with other Baby Boot Campers, have Dads start regular poker nights and see regular running groups form. I received the following email last month that sums it up best:

"I have only lived in Portland for 10 months, and most of my social life is thanks to Baby boot camp! I've got 2 play groups now and a whole bunch of great friends. I'm fitter and stronger than I have been in a long time and all my clothes are too big! So, I thought it was about time I thanked you all for making Portland really feel like home. I don't know how I would have survived without it.

Thank you for putting up with my (very sarcastic!) British sense of humor, and for giving me something to leave the house for in the mornings! - xxoo Alison"

Thank you everyone, for helping make my goal of a supportive and active community come true. I thank you and appreciate your excitement and enjoyment in doing so. I know this next year our community will grow bigger and deeper than ever before. Even if you get kicked off the swing, you have plenty of strong women who will dust you off and pick you right back up.

Warmly and with much appreciation- Erin Shirey