Tulsi works hard to be an excellent mother

Twenty-five year old Tulsi struggled to conceive for several years before seeking fertility treatment from a local non-profit health program. Shortly thereafter, she found out that she was pregnant with her daughter, Neha, now almost 4. Two years later, she was thrilled to discover that she was expecting again, and one year ago, gave birth to her second daughter, Priya. After her initial fertility difficulties, Tulsi feels so grateful to be a mother and is a very attentive, doting parent.  Naturally, she jumped at the opportunity to improve her parenting skills by joining a Mother-Baby class through the same health program that provided her initial fertility treatment.

Tulsi enjoys the sessions because they are interactive and engaging, and she has the chance to bond with other mothers of similarly aged children over their shared experiences. Tulsi brings Priya with her so that she has an opportunity to socialize and play with educational toys under the watchful eye of a designated caregiver during the discussion portions of the class and participate in the hands-on activites with her mothers during the rest of the class.  During the interactive, hands-ons components, she and the other babies and toddlers  gets to participate in the class as well, whether by taste-testing a nutritious snack the women are learning to cook for their children, or accompanying their mothers on a field trip to a local health clinic for immunizations.

The classes also ensure that children like Priya are kept up-to-date with their vaccinations and check-ups. They also have regular access to the on-site doctor to answer all of Tulsi’s questions. With all of this support, Tulsi feels much more prepared and confident that she can foster an enriching, engaging environment for them at home. The class also serves as a support group for the women, who have created their own little community and offer each other assistance and friendship as they navigate motherhood together.

Tulsi and Priya also receive small gift items (soap, shampoo, baby toothbrush etc)  as a reward for good attendance and to encourage good hygiene habits. Tulsi is thankful for these gifts, as her husband earns a mere 1,500 rupees ($35) per month as a roadside key-maker, and she would have difficulty providing these items to her daughters otherwise.

Thank you, SwipeGood, Arun, and Erik (x2), for coming together to gift a year of vital parenting classes to Tulsi and to help Tulsi become an excellent mother.