Kendra Ruminer's Two Cents of Real Estate

Take A Peek At Los Alamos, New Mexico

Tag: First Born of Los Alamos

Hope & Help For Parents to Be!

April 22, 2022 /

There’s no doubt in my mind that parenting is tough! Not just because you’re tired both physically and emotionally by the everyday tasks of raising your kiddos, but because raising kids these days is expensive! So because spring always feels like the season of babies, I thought it might be a great idea to mention two very special organizations that offer support to parents in our community.

HOPE Pregnancy Center

For many of you, the building right across from the high school fronting Diamond Drive will always be the old “Ed’s Supermarket” building, (more about that in another post!) But around the corner from the entrance to Gracie Barra, you might see the letters H-O-P-E in purple. The letters stand for Health Options Pregnancy Education and the organization is a national faith based non profit that focuses on exactly what it sounds like.

These days HOPE has moved to a location closer to the downtown area in the old bank building at 1650 Trinity Dr. They’re in Suite 107 right across from Sonic and are still helping everyone who walks through their doors.

Testing

The most critical piece of information when you’re worried that you might be pregnant is that first question. Am I? HOPE offers free pregnancy testing to anyone no matter their age or their religious affiliation. This is an incredible service for anyone worried about that all important question. Perhaps you don’t know which test to buy, how to take it, or maybe you’re just too intimidated to even attempt it on your own. After all, if you discover you are pregnant, what then? HOPE offers appointment based testing in a safe, supportive environment. You’ll be treated with respect by someone qualified to help you through the experience regardless of the answer.

Education

Never considered yourself parent material? Don’t worry! HOPE has classes to help you through the uncertainty of pregnancy. Once you’re holding your baby close, HOPE offers classes on parenting to help you navigate the questions surrounding basic baby care and even best practices surrounding discipline, child development, and safety. Sometimes just taking a class makes you feel more secure. After all, kids don’t come with an owners’ manual!

The Baby Boutique

The Baby Boutique is an amazing service offered by HOPE to their families. Stocked with new and gently used baby and toddler gear of every description, the boutique has a “baby bucks” program that offers material help to bridge the gap between what parents need and what they might be able to afford in a tight spot.

Volunteering

If you’ve raised your kiddos and are looking for a great way to get involved in the community, check out HOPE’s volunteer page. Put your skills to work organizing baby clothes, doing office work, or offering support to new and expecting parents. Volunteering is the best way to really make friends and carve out your very own niche in a new community. So if you’re looking for ways to expand on my previous post about Newcomers in Los Alamos, this could be the opportunity for you!

First Born of Los Alamos

I’ve mentioned this organization before on my blog, but honestly, if you’re expecting your first child here in Los Alamos, you should really reach out to this program! The most incredible resource they offer is the home visit. Now that Covid restrictions have lessened, home visits are once again taking place. This is an amazing opportunity to have someone come to you with an offer of help. Even if it’s only a piece of advice here or there or a kind smile and a “you’re doing great!” That can be the difference between feeling secure in your parenting and feeling like a hot mess!

The best way to get a good picture of the First Born Program is to check out their introductory video here. Honestly, I can’t tell you about them more effectively than they can tell you themselves!

Regardless of your parenting status, I hope you’ll agree with me that it’s wonderful to be part of a community that offers so many resources for people in every stage of life! I love it here in Los Alamos. And I hope when you decide you want to talk real estate in Los Alamos County, you give me a call!

Growing Families Strong in Los Alamos

June 24, 2021 /

Last week we talked about Los Alamos Family Council and the many services they offer to the community, most of them at low cost or even no cost. This week, I want to dig a little deeper and feature two non-profit organizations that are absolutely dedicated to strengthening families from the ground up.

First Born

As you might expect from the name, First Born is an organization that helps first time parents get a grip on the parenting experience. Kids don’t come with an instruction manual and goodness knows it can be difficult to cope when you were already juggling a life packed with responsibilities and commitments even before you added your bundle of joy!

First Born specializes in home visits beginning during the prenatal time to help moms and dads get ready for the big event. Typically, a home visitor will remain attached to the family for a period of up to three years after birth. Imagine having Google Answers – Baby Edition right there in your living room each week! Talk about an invaluable service! Not only are home visitors available, but First Born provides lactation counselors at no charge for those who have questions or concerns about breastfeeding.

If the organization has the resources, they also work with families who are new (again) to parenting simply because a good chunk of time has passed between their current youngest and their current pregnancy. Or, perhaps one of you has gone through the parenting process before, but one of you hasn’t. Or, maybe you’re trying to breastfeed for the first time and need some extra help.

Pretty much, if your family needs a bit of extra support, First Born will try to lend a helping hand. It’s what they’ve been doing since the organization first kicked off in Silver City, NM in 1997. Since then, they’ve opened offices and offered support in 15 different counties here in New Mexico. The mission of First Born is to encourage relationship building within families through curriculum based early intervention models in an effort to strengthen families and empower parents to raise healthy, happy kids. It’s an awesome organization and if you know anyone who is starting or growing their family, you should absolutely get them connected to our local chapter!

Family Strengths Network

If your kiddos have already made it past toddlerhood and into that rather long stretch of childhood, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Family Strengths Network has you covered. Their mission statement is as follows: “Through our work, Family Strengths Network improves the quality of family life for generations. FSN provides educational and fun activities to all types of families, parents, teens, and children. FSN: Empowering Families, Building Community.”

Empowering Families, Building Community

From Saturday activities for special needs children to teen groups focused on communication skills, Family Strengths Network is all about just that. Strengthening Family. They even have a lending library with hundreds of books about topics near and dear to the parents’ heart. The organization also offers parenting classes and social groups to help moms connect.

If you’re looking for an activity to get your kids active again, check out the FSN website. They’ve got classes for all ages as well as cool activities for the whole family to enjoy. As advocates for early intervention, they have a strong focus on empowering families to understand human growth and development in a way that helps them guide their children through the milestones of life. With access to other local resource networks such as Los Cumbres and even First Born, FSN is committed to putting you and your family on the right track to a healthy, happy, and productive life!

So don’t forget to check out these two great organizations here in Los Alamos! Our community is always growing and always looking for ways to support one another. If you’re ready to be a part of Life in Los Alamos, give me a call! I’m always happy to talk about my hometown!

© 2024 Kendra Ruminer's Two Cents of Real Estate

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑