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11 Hospitality Tips every Woodlands Mommy should know!

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Make your holiday gatherings extra special with these thoughtful tips that will ensure your guests feel welcomed, appreciated, and cared for. From warm greetings to thoughtful gestures, these hospitality ideas will add a touch of grace to your home this season!

Maternal Mental Health and What It Means to YOU - (SPONSORED by Mamaya Health)

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(Written by Amy Green, Mamaya Founder) - Are you one of the 1 in 5 new moms who struggle with perinatal mood disorders? It’s a staggering number, yet many mothers go without the care they truly need. Perinatal mood disorders (PMDs) can include feelings of depression, anxiety, and other emotional challenges that arise during pregnancy, after giving birth, or even after experiencing a pregnancy loss. Despite how common these struggles are, barriers like cost, lack of specialists, and distance keep too many women from getting help.

As the founder of Mamaya Health, my own experiences with recurrent loss and secondary infertility have inspired me to ensure no mother has to go through these challenges alone.

Why Maternal Mental Health Matters

Motherhood is often painted as a time of joy, but the reality can be much more complex. Imagine you’ve been dreaming of your baby, picturing all the happy moments, only to be blindsided by overwhelming emotions when the time comes. Perinatal mood disorders, like postpartum depression or anxiety, can cast a shadow over what’s “supposed” to be a precious season in life.

And these struggles don’t always start after birth—they can show up during pregnancy, after a loss, or continue into the first year of motherhood as life, hormones, and family dynamics adjust around a new little one.

For some moms, the signs start off small—trouble sleeping, worry that won’t quit, or a low feeling that lingers. Others feel pulled into a storm of sadness, irritability, and overwhelming isolation. Basic daily tasks can seem impossible, and caring for a newborn might feel like a mountain too high to climb. In the darkest moments, some moms may even have thoughts of escape or wonder if they’re in too deep.

But there is hope. Maternal mental health struggles aren’t battles that need to be fought alone. So many moms have walked this path, and with support from loved ones, therapists, and support groups, there’s a way through. To every mother facing the shadows of perinatal mood disorders— please remember you are not alone. Your feelings are valid, and there is help to guide you through this season.

Mamaya Health’s Approach

At Mamaya Health, we believe in compassionate, specialized support. Every therapist on our team is trained in maternal mental health, and we’re here to offer care tailored to each mom’s unique journey. Our virtual therapy services address a range of issues, including:

  • Perinatal depression
  • Anxiety
  • Trauma
  • Postpartum OCD
  • Feelings of isolation or overwhelm
  • Pregnancy loss or grief
  • Infertility

We aim to make getting support easy and stress-free, allowing moms to connect with therapists from wherever they are.

A Commitment to Texas Mothers

We know moms across Texas face real challenges when it comes to finding specialized mental health care. Finding the proper support can feel overwhelming whether you’re in the city or in a rural area. Long distances, few providers, and financial constraints often make it challenging for Texas women to get help.

Mamaya Health is here to change that. Our virtual therapy model bridges those gaps, making it easier for moms across Texas to connect with specialized care without the hassle of travel. With options like self-pay and sliding scales, we’re working to make support accessible for all. And soon, we’ll be in-network with major insurance providers to make things even more accessible.

Motherhood brings immense joy and real challenges. No woman should have to navigate those challenges alone. Whether you’re dealing with infertility, adjusting to postpartum life, or balancing the day-to-day demands of motherhood, our therapists are here to support you with empathy, understanding, and a commitment to helping you thrive.

Bridging the Accessibility Gap with Virtual Therapy

At Mamaya Health, we’re turning maternal mental health care from a luxury into something every mom can access. Our virtual therapy platform is built to fit the demands of real life. Virtual therapy means women who already have full schedules of doctor’s appointments for infertility treatments, pregnancy, or postpartum care can get the support they need with ease. It also opens doors for those in rural areas where specialized providers may not be available.

By supporting moms in their most vulnerable moments, Mamaya Health is helping to build a healthier, stronger community.

Let’s Walk This Journey Together

If any of this resonates with you, we’d love for you to connect with us. Please share your story, reach out for support, or consider scheduling a session with one of our maternal mental health specialists. Whether you’re looking for help for yourself or seeking resources for someone you care about, every step forward makes a difference. At Mamaya Health, we’re here to walk alongside you, offering compassion, resources, and care to make a lasting impact.

Learn more and schedule an appointment with a Mamaya Health therapist today.

Visit Mamaya Health

Editor's Picks: Best Websites for Online Games & Fun for Kids

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Too exhausted for high-energy activities? We get it! Sometimes you just need to put "momming" on autopilot and let the kids do something fun on the computer. See below for our favorite free interactive websites for hours of teaching and entertaining your little ones.

Your child will LOVE our 2024 Thanksgiving book picks!

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One of the joys of the Thanksgiving season is sitting down to a beautifully illustrated picture book! The best Thanksgiving books are colorful, heart-warming, and evoke the sights and sounds of the season. Here are some favorites we think your little one will love. For ease in ordering, affiliate links are included for each recommendation.

Reclaim a slower-paced, enriching, happy home with these Simple Playthings

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Listen, I know it's the year 2024, but I can't help thinking that our lives will be happier and less on-edge if our kids spent more time playing with old-fashioned toys. These days, everything lights up and makes noise, instant gratification is at its peak, and what’s “in-season” seems to go out the door quicker than a candle flame.

What's a "Boo" basket and How do you make one?

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Halloween Boo Baskets (or boo buckets or boo bags) are all the rage in the month of October! Have you heard of them? They’re a fun custom of sharing Halloween goodies with friends and neighbors by secretly leaving a basket of treats on their front porch. Once the giftee has been “Boo’d”, they pass on the fun by creating another Halloween Boo Basket and gifting it to another neighbor. It’s kind of like a Secret Santa, only scarier!

20+ Halloween movies to watch at home this month

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Ready to get into the Halloween spirit with some scary movies (and some not-so-scary ones)? Here's a short list of animated favorites for little kids and another list of live-action movies that might be best suited for the older crowd. Either way, you're in for a spooky good time! Note, there are no horror / thriller movies on this list, because it's not that type of party :-)

Incorporate these cute ideas into your Family's Fall Photo Shoot

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Say cheese! Fall season is here, and mother nature has given us beautiful hues to serve as the perfect backdrop for fall family pictures!  Let's take some photos, shall we? But first... do you want the kids to look straight at the camera and fake a smile, or do you want a natural, fun, "autumn rocks" type of vibe?

I knew you'd choose the latter! Whether you're doing the shoot yourself or hiring a professional photographer, here are some fall family photo ideas for making those portraits look amazing!

Dress to impress this fall! Here are 11 trendy picks from our Editors!

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Fall is here, and you need a new wardrobe! When you step out this season, you’ll want to be dressed to impressed, because life is TOO SHORT to be mediocre. Jazz up the wardrobe with these fabulous finds that are hand-picked for our readers (affiliate links below!):

Get these 10 Delightful Picture Books that Celebrate Fall

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One of the thrills of the autumn season is cozing up to enjoy fun books. Here are our Editor's Picks of 10 great reads for your child this season! (Affiliate links below for ease in shopping.) 

Do these things to kickstart the fall season

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You've waited all this time for the official season that promises cooler weather, fun activities, and cozy mornings. Now that it's here (Sunday, Sept. 22), how are you planning to make a ruckus about it? The change in season is always worthy of celebration, especially when you have an eager child at home who loves soaking up new ideas and traditions.

Below are a handful of activities you can do the first week of fall to kicktart this beautiful, carefree time of year. There are 7 ideas total, so spread them out one thing per day, or go all in and do them all at once. However you decide to celebrate, I hope you enjoy!