Meet a Mom! Christine of The Parent Collective

 

Meet Christine Hernandez, boy mom, Doula, and part of the The Parent Collective Long Island team! 

 

 

I am originally from Long Island (Hauppauge) but lived upstate for a while and then in Brooklyn, but we just moved back to the Island in July!

I have one kiddo, his name is Griffin and he is 2 and a half!

My husband and I got married in my moms backyard in West Islip the day before our son’s first birthday. My brother got ordained online in order to marry us. We had food trucks parked in the driveway and my friends and I jumped into the pool at the end of the night in our dresses. It was the best wedding I could have ever imaged and it was featured in Newsday (true story!)

https://www.newsday.com/long-island/online-ordained-ministers-weddings-friends-family-1.22726199

I love how you can have the best of both worlds– you can go into the city or disappear into the woods in about an hour either way! I also love the proximity to the ocean- I am a really big fan of the ocean.

We love getting coffee (and almond milk for G) on the weekends and also exploring new places and towns! Even though I am originally from Long Island, so much has changed and I am viewing it through new eyes as I find fun new places to bring my son!

From the minute I heard about The Parent Collective I knew I wanted to be involved. I loved how they are filling the gap between a more agenda driven childbirth education class and a formal/not so warm and fuzzy hospital birth class. Parenting on Long Island can be somewhat isolating as everything is so spread apart- we focus on building your village- and connecting parents with other parents in their area with kiddos around the same age. I am super passionate about mama’s feeling supported in whatever their preferences for their birth experience is and The Parent Collective is all about non-judgemental support for everyone. So when I had the opportunity to jump on board as the Director for Long Island, it was a no brainer for me! It has been so amazing to help bring these classes to Long Island and to watch the growth and expansion we have had in such a short time. We are also looking to start a new parent support series in the coming months, bringing in different experts- it will be really great!

I am a volunteer doula at Winthrop hospital (not exactly in the community but Long Island) through Long Island Doula Association, supporting new parents who are bringing their babies into this world. It is such a tremendous honor to be a part of such an amazing program that is doing so much good for local parents.

The connections I have made have been HUGE for me, in so many aspects. I have been humbled again and again by the generosity and kindness of local business owners who have shouted us out on social media or donated products or services for the goody bags that we give to the new parents- we could not spread the word about our classes without the support of the community and I am eternally grateful for everyone who has played a role in our growth thus far. I am especially grateful for our location partner, The Sandbox, not only is it the cutest and in my honest opinion BEST playspace on Long Island (hands down, honestly) but they are huge supporters of us and we are so lucky to have them.