For the past seven years, Yvonne Lefort has led a program called "Rediscovering Yourself in the Midst of Motherhood" in the Northern California Bay Area. She has been quoted in Newsweek magazine, interviewed on local television and speaks regularly at mothers' clubs and schools. I interviewed her recently to find out why she got started and how she incorporates the MotherStyles information into her workshops.
Yvonne is the first professional profile in an on-going series. As long as there is interest, it will continue. My objective is two fold: to recognize people who are doing important work supporting mothers and to inspire other professionals to do the same.
If you are doing programs for parents in your local area, and would consider being interviewed, please contact me at jpmoms@aol.com.
Meet Yvonne Lefort:
Personality type: ISTJ
Work/Family: Mother of a 10 year-old boy, career counselor and MBTI professional in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- Harold Whitman
Q: What made you start doing programs for mothers?
I started when my son was three. I'd been a
stay-at-home mom, happy going to playgroups and Mommy & Me classes, but
after awhile I started craving more intellectual stimulation. I would get
together with another professional mother and talk about the trials of being a
mom. I realized other moms might feel the same way. So I decided to blend my
background as a career counselor with my experience of being a mom.
Q: Tell me how "Rediscovering Yourself
in the Midst of Motherhood" got started.
I developed a six week
program using my basic career counselor tools and tweaked them for the needs of
mothers. The goal was to get back in touch with ourselves as individuals, not
just mothers. For example, in career counseling we clarify work values, so in
this program I helped mothers clarify their life values. We talked about
self-nurturing, skill evaluations, personality type, mothering style. I gave
homework assignments to foster their self-awareness, including reading and
reacting to passages in your book.
The first group was 5 women and we met at a local baby store. The women enjoyed getting to know each other on a deeper level. Most mothers put up a front that everything is hunky dory. No one talks about how hard it is. I gave them some concrete way to move forward in their lives. At the end, the women were so energized they wanted the group to continue.
I have offered the program twice a year for the last seven years. The rewards are great. I know my work has helped moms take better care of themselves, feel less isolated, connect with other mothers, and feel happier.
Q: How do you promote your programs?
When I started out, I publicized through the baby store's newsletter and posted fliers at the community center, parks, nursery schools, book stores, anywhere mothers gathered. Now I do most of my publicity through email. I've developed an extensive email list of contacts at mothers clubs, preschools, twin groups, other professionals doing work with mothers, and all past participants. I send them the information and ask them to forward it to their own network of friends and contacts. I attach a flier and ask them to post it on a community bulletin board. I am part of a Yahoo email list serve for moms groups in our county and post announcements on the Berkeley Parents Network that reaches thousands of mothers. I speak at various parent groups and write articles for local newspapers. They don't generate many queries but they help build my credibility.
Q: What advice can you give other professionals who may want to lead parent programs?
Find a niche and fill it. Ask moms what they need and then develop programs to meet those needs. Right now there is a lot of interest in balancing work/life/family. Mirror your own needs. For example, in the early years of motherhood I was dealing with the issues I addressed in "Rediscovering Yourself in the Midst of Motherhood." When I decided to teach part-time at a local college, I started a new program called "Crayons to Careers" -- to help mothers re-enter the work force. Mothers like short programs. I get a better turn-out if I do a one-day program like "Introduction to Crayons to Careers" and then segue way into a nine-week program.
Q: How has personality type helped your mothering?
I'm an Introvert and my son is a big Extravert. Even though he can sit and read for hours, most of the time he is a chatter box and talks constantly. Sometimes when we're driving in the car, I can't take it anymore. Personality type has helped me realize it isn't about blaming him, it's about me taking care of my needs. Rather than say, "You talk too much," I say, "Mommy is running out of listening energy." I can better accept that he's who he is and I am who I am.
To learn more or to
contact Yvonne directly, go to www.mothersinbalance.com.
Are you an MBTI professional or parent group leader? Be sure you are registered for the sub-interest group Leaders Circle as well as MomsCircle. Scroll down to the bottom and click on the link "Update my Profile". When the new screen appears, make sure both boxes are checked.
I welcome your thoughts and comments on the professional profile series.
Thanks,
Janet Penley
PS Have you already downloaded the Personal Energy Plan for your type?
If you are a MBTI professional or parent group leader, you have my permission to
download all sixteen and use them as handouts in your workshops and individual
consultations.
