Today we’d like to introduce you to Cristina Gamarnik.
Hi Cristina, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
After I had my son four years ago, I had a very difficult postpartum experience. I struggled making mom friends and getting support during the difficult first year as a new mom. My son was very spirited and my experience was far from what I had expected. I felt overwhelmed and sad that it was so much harder than I thought it would be. My friends without kids or family members with older children could not relate to my struggles so I found a local mommy and me class. It was great meeting other moms with babies around the same age and being able to share our feelings with each other. After the class finished, I missed seeing a group of moms regularly so I started organizing playdates weekly. I met so many moms and was able to help other moms get connected through the playdates and moms’ nights. And, once covid hit, I noticed how much isolation all moms experienced and what a terrible impact it had on everyone’s lives.
Given the difficulty and isolation I had gone through, I spent a lot of time going to therapy and also reading many books on the subject. It finally clicked to me that I can try to help others that have struggled like me. I started hosting local play dates and moms’ night outs, which started to gain popularity. It has become my passion to help out other moms, and I continued my growth on the subject of being a parent educator. I also focused on mindfulness and became a certified Reiki practitioner. Last year, I chose to make a larger impact on the community and decided to open The Mommy Center, which is intended to give moms a second family, offer them the much-needed support they need, grow as mothers and help their children’s development, and give them the opportunity to make life-long friendships. My hobby became my business overnight. And now, we are beyond excited to be able to celebrate our 1-year anniversary on April 19th and are very grateful for the over-pouring support by the community.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Starting a new business during the pandemic has not been a smooth ride. From finding the right venues to social distancing – it took a lot of work to grow. Balancing mom-life and work-life is always a challenge – especially when starting a new business. I was fortunate enough to do most work in the evenings when my son was asleep. Additionally, my mother was able to watch my son during my classes. When your passion and hobby become your job – work seems more like fun. It’s been a blessing being able to support so many mamas in the community and being able to offer something that has been lacking here.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
The Mommy Center is your home for all things motherhood. Our center is based on the four Ss: support, schooling, socialization and self-development for all moms. Our postpartum support classes are designed go offer moms a warm and nurturing place to grow, learn and connect. Every mom is accepted without judgment and can feel safe to share all her feelings and experiences while making long-lasting friendships. Our classes are unique because each class series is organized by the baby’s birth month (0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-12 months). Moms get to experiencing the same stage of motherhood with the fellow mamas and babies. During the 10-week series, experts in the field share their wealth of knowledge while supporting moms and letting them share their struggles and thoughts. For example, a lactation consultant discusses breastfeeding and bottle-feeding, a sleep expert supports moms to get better sleep, an LMFT discusses relationships after having a baby, a pelvic floor physical therapist discusses recovery and intimacy, and so much more. What makes The Mommy Center stand out from other postpartum support groups is our heavy focus on social events and supporting the local community. We offer monthly events including organized playdates, holiday celebrations, moms’ nights, dads’ playdates and so much more. In just under a year, over 500 moms joined our classes and/or events. Our private Facebook group grew to almost one thousand members.
It truly takes a village to raise a child so join us here to find your mommy tribe. We also offer playgroups for 1-2 years old and a language enhancement class for 2-4 years old.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
We always look to add more amazing professionals who can support new moms. Our speakers are selected through a rigorous process to make sure their educational background and social skills are excellent. We also love to work with other businesses in the area to support the mom community.
Pricing:
- 10-week Mommy & Me Series $495
- 6-week 1-2 year old play group $150
- 4-week 2-4 year old language enhancement class $150
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.TheMommyCenter.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mommycenteroc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themommycenter
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-mommy-center-laguna-hills?osq=the+mommy+center
Image Credits
Photo of Cristina with sign Raquel Knowles https://rknowlesphoto.com/ photo of groups: Michelle Marie Photo www.mmlifestylephoto.com group photo outside by wall and indoor studio with TV in back by Kelly Petrovski Photography www.kellypetrovskiphotography.com
