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Local educator offers class for parents to be.
The blush of new parenthood should paint those early days for new and growing families with excitement and joy. Yet, those first weeks after a birth can make any parent blanch with worry and uncertainty. There are plenty of classes out there that address labor and delivery or provide information for babies six weeks and older. There is, however, an important period of time between birth to six weeks that can leave parents feeling at a loss and, in some cases, quite alone.
“We send them home from the hospital to care for a tiny newborn with little more than a wave and a bouquet,” Beverly Gillen says, but the parent educator wants to be among those who fill that delta by offering The Stork School for Expectant Parents.
Gillen of Minnetonka launched the six-week online course earlier this year. It examines 12 modules with over 40 teaching topics, including baby safety, baby soothing and feeding, early literacy, infant brain development, parent-child attachment, postpartum self-care, the unique role of fathers/partners and more. Gillen says she developed The Stork School “to provide parent education and postpartum wellness instruction before baby is born, so new parents are confident and capable of caring for their newborn and themselves.”
Emma and Christopher Knutson took the course ahead of their first child’s February birth. As a busy high school special education reading teacher and gymnastics coach, Emma needed the flexibility of an online course. “We were able to do it on our time and not feel pressured for attendance,” she says. She points to information about newborn safety as being particularly helpful and highlights another valuable section. “Bev did a really good section about relationship care,” she says. “I don’t know that that’s covered everywhere, and that’s important.” Emma says the class examined how to maintain a couple’s relationship while so much focus is aimed toward the new child.
While the course is online, participants have the opportunity to engage with other cohorts through weekly online discussions. Gillen employs a similar model to one she uses while teaching a master’s course in family science Concordia University, St. Paul. For the Stork School, she posts a relatable and approachable question at the beginning of the week, and students are invited to reply and comment on each other’s posts. “It leads to some lively conversation. They also have the option to post personal videos/photos,” she says.
While providing information is the class’s prime goal, building community is also important. “I think people really enjoy hearing from others, who are in a similar stage of life,” Gillen says. “Pregnancy and parenting can be isolating sometimes, so the community aspect is important …” Emma notes that cohorts also included veteran parents, who wanted a little refresher before adding to their families. “To learn from them, as well, was really helpful,” she says.
Families that complete the course earn an Honorary Degree in Prepared Parenthood and $50 toward a nest egg for their child’s postsecondary education. (There are terms.)
Learn more about one of Gillen’s books, The Gift of Green Time™: 50 Ways for Families to Disconnect (and Reconnect) Outdoors, (Lake Minnetonka edition), which was featured in our July 2023 issue.
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