My life as I know it is about to change: forever. In about 4 weeks, most likely under the guidance & protection of the full moon of February 7th and surrounded by my own tribe, I will give birth to my son.

I have no expectations of how the birth of my son will unfold. I know not where the choreography of the birth will take place: in a birth tub or in a Goddess squat, or if I will need the assistance of a hospital. I do, however, know one thing: the word “love” will have an entirely new definition for me. My heart, like my uterus which has grown 5 times it’s original size from 8 months ago, will expand and receive for the first time ever sensations of ecstasy previously unknown…

Many of my family and friends have lovingly shared with me all the fascinating things that are about to change in my life: Poop, pee, throw up EVERYWHERE!!. No sleep, no time alone, etc etc etc EVER AGAIN!! ”It’s so hard, get ready for the most challenging and wonderful time of you life!” I love all of this wisdom and I cannot help but smile: Poop and pee and throw-up and no sleep and hard times are who I am! I have been juggling 7 things at once since I was 7 years old! Hardship is where I SHINE! So can I do all of this while also facilitating a human who has chosen me as his birth channel into this world? I say YES!

I am so confidant in the ease of this transition of “my life never being the same” because I have, and you can quote me, the most EPIC community in the whole entire friggin’ WORLD! I have Grandmothers and Mothers and Sisters and Brothers and Grandpa’s and little ones waiting to care for my boy. I have dance camps waiting for us to dance and cry and laugh at; I have Africa and India waiting for us to visit and to educate us. I have a tribe with arms wide open! And so I am at ease. I have no interest in being my boy’s only Mother. I am very much a follower and believer of the wisdom of Sobonfu Somè. In her books she explains that raising children in her village in West Africa is a COMMUNITY experience. The 2 parents are key players in the raising of the child, but it’s actually the responsibility of the ENTIRE community and the PLEASURE of the Tribe in providing the child with all the wisdom she or he will need. I am walking evidence that it takes a village to raise a child. Sobonfu gently reminds us that it also takes a village to support new parents. I know so little in comparison to what my community knows! A a whole, I am confidant this child wiggling in my enormous expanded uterus as I type these very words will have everything he could ever need. This realization makes me giddy with excitement…

Call it a tribe. Call it a clan. Call it a network. Call it family or call it your crew. The fact is: we all need one.

Here is the beautiful Tucson Yoga Tribe. I love them a whole lot. Thank you all for allowing me to play with you big kids!