It is Monday. The day we get to introduce you to an amazing area mom!
And this week we are honored to share Jasmine Emerick!
Jasmine is a licensed social worker, local therapist, author – also her and her husband have three children under the age of 6!
Earlier this year we sat down and talked with Jasmine about her book, The Postpartum Therapist: A humorous and honest approach to the postpartum life. We also talked about what led her to writing it along with her own postpartum story! And this book is not just for moms, it is full of useful information for those who support moms!
This is for all moms – while it is necessary to consider this perspective and approach for new moms, it also is great for moms with older children, and those who support her!
Jasmine is quick witted, funny, and real – all helpful tools regardless of the “hat” she is wearing! When you have a moment, watch the YouTube video below.
Welcome to Greater Lansing Area Moms, Jasmine! We are so glad you are here!
A special thank you to Boji Group for their ongoing support and sponsorships of GLAMoms Meet a Moms and this week, Boji Group made the introduction! 🙂
Please introduce yourself!
Hi! I’m Jasmine! I currently live in Zeeland, MI, but am an Eaton Rapids native. I graduated from Eaton Rapids High School then went on to earn my Bachelors Degree at Ferris State University and my Masters Degree from Western Michigan University. I am a Licensed Masters Social Worker and a Clinical Therapist at PAR Rehab Services in Lansing, MI. I specialize in Postpartum Mood Disorders and I am officially celebrating 10 years as a therapist with them this month! I offer telehealth therapy and Postpartum Adjustment Groups. (parrehab.org/jasmine-emerick-lmsw)
How old are your children?
I am a mom of three! My kids are 6, 4, and 2! We have a very busy, fun, wild, and overstimulating household for sure! There are minimal moments of silence and it’s how I always envisioned having children would be.
What do you think is one of the best parts about being a mom?
The best part about being a mom has been watching each of my kiddos develop their own personalities, but also sharing some of the best characteristics I could have ever asked for. My kids are so loving, social, outgoing, adventurous, and energetic.
What is a piece of advice for new moms you wish you would have known when you were a new mom?
There are things that I have learned along the way that I wish I would have given myself the freedom to do as a mom earlier on. Advice that I would have for a new mom would be to pour back into yourself. Make sure to take time away, go for a walk, meet a friend for coffee, let a trusted family member babysit for a couple hours, or stay committed to your favorite exercise class.
I was so anxious as a first-time mom that I wouldn’t leave my kids and looking back, I would have felt less overwhelmed if I would have taken time for me.
Tell us about your book, The Postpartum Therapist: A humorous and honest approach to the postpartum life!
There are many reasons why I wrote my book, so it’s hard to identify one purpose, but if I had to sum it up, I would say that I didn’t want any moms to suffer in silence. I am a therapist and was trained in treating postpartum women prior to having any children myself. I thought I was “prepared” to have kids and could check off almost all the items on a prepared checklist if there was one.
I realized about a year postpartum that my expectations for being a parent vastly differed from what I had been experiencing. I suffered with postpartum anxiety/OCD. I wanted moms to know that even as a therapist I suffered. I wanted moms to know that postpartum mood disorders do not discriminate. I wanted moms, their spouses, and professionals to know that symptoms come in many ways that you may not think of.
Overall, I wanted moms to know they weren’t alone. Although my book is geared towards moms, it is intended for anyone that plans to support a new mom. It could be family members, spouses, partners, healthcare providers, therapists, etc.
How has having children changed your approach to helping others with PPD?
This is an excellent question! It has helped me with identifying symptoms I wouldn’t have otherwise been aware of. After my experience on talking with others\ moms, I learned about a lot of symptoms that moms are ashamed to talk about. It has provided me with a beautiful opportunity to hear the true stories of other moms.
Tell us more about hosting events!
Yes, the most recent event was July 10. And events fall into all this because I’ve learned that as much as I LOVE being a therapist, I want to connect with moms in other ways. I want to provide moms with fun, healthy, relaxing ways to connect with others. I love moms seeing me for therapy, but I want to do more for them. I want to offer opportunities for relaxation, connection, support, and pouring into themselves. Before July 10, I hosted a Moms Night Out event in May that was absolutely AMAZING (photo below is from a Moms Night Out)
Then I decided that I wanted to create a full day that is focused on the BEST DAY EVER for a mom or woman in general. So it’s a full day of everything you may want to go do with a best-friend. You will have coffee, breakfast, have a trail walk with your coffee, attend a yoga class, do a watercolor class, have lunch, snacks, go on a tour of Hidden Creek Farms, get a mini facial, and a mini massage. Hopefully everyone leaves feeling completed filled and amazing!
I hope to see many of you at an upcoming event and speaking of events, save the date and plan to come out to the Fall 5K Walk/Run and Harvest Party at Hidden Creek Farms! Registration is now open!
Not a runner (or walker) no problem – there are lots of things to do at the Harvest Party! Food trucks, balloons, bounce house fun, and Over the Rainbow Zootopia is bringing their petting zoo – and so much more planned. There will be something for everyone!
Visit the Facebook Event Page here: facebook.com/events/s/hidden-creek-farms-5k-walkrun (also a sign for the event is below) And if interested in the 5K Walk/Run for adults and children, sign up here: runsignup.com/Race/MI/Charlotte/HiddenCreekHarvest (It is a beautiful course and you will love the race t-shirts by Fabricated Customs!
**Price increases at midnight on October 1, 2024. Sign up now!
Some fun questions to get to know you better
And how do you take your coffee?
Hmm.. Cold coffee for sure.
What is your favorite seasonal drink this year?
🙂 Good question- The sweeter the better! And a new fall favorite drink is a Chumpkin Tea Latte! Or or whatever my favorite barista, Mel thinks up for me (Mel is just a barista at our local Starbucks)!
Last book you read?
“There are Moms Way Worse Than You”
Favorite social media platform?
Facebook, I’m still learning how to use the others haha 🙂
If you watch television, what is your favorite show?
I don’t watch any shows, but favorite movie would be The Family Stone
Strangest item in your glove box or trunk right now?
Nothing hahaha
What are some favorite children’s books at your house?
My son loves Brown Bear, my daughters like The Creepy Crayon or Amelia Bedelia books
Where are some of your favorite places locally to spend time with your family?
Our family loves to go to DeBoer’s in Holland for Breakfast, we love Holland State Park. This fall our family is looking forward to going camping at Kibby Creek Campground for their Harvest Weekend!
Earlier this year, we really enjoyed the Lantern Festival at John Ball Zoo. We love to travel as well and spend lots of time with our friends and family.
Mind sharing a mom trick another mom will be happy to learn?
Ok so one of my favorite “almost mom” trick is to use a pair of tongs when you are reeaaalllly pregnant to get clothes out of the washer.
How do you prefer readers to connect with you if they would like more information?
Facebook Messenger would be great!
Thank you so much for joining us Jasmine and for taking time out of your day to share more about yourself, your book and upcoming events with Greater Lansing Area Moms! All other things aside, the biggest take away from talking with Jasmine is that she wants mom’s to know that you don’t have to be struggling or suffering to benefit from therapy. The adjustment to motherhood is hard! It can be helpful to have another person there to give you support during life’s biggest changes. Don’t forget to pour back into you. Whether it’s therapy, getting coffee with a friend, going for a walk, attending an event for moms or a combination of all these. You deserve it. ❤️
More about Jasmine Emerick:
If you are interested in following along and learning more about Jasmine, her book, The Postpartum Therapist: A humorous and honest approach to the postpartum life! Along with information about upcoming events, follow Jasmine on Facebook, Instagram and/or TikTok.
*all images used were provided to Greater Lansing Area Moms by Jasmine Emerick.
Meet a Mom Sponsor information
Today’s Meet a Mom featuring Jasmine Emerick was brought to you by Boji Group. Boji Group specializes in Private-Public Partnerships, has offices in both Lansing and Birmingham and is headquartered in downtown Lansing.
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