Love vs. Infatuation
Love vs. Infatuation Greta Bailey, THRIVE Educator Not even 24 hours after February 14th, stores will rapidly throw away their sparkly heart-shaped decorations, take down their romantic flower displays, and try to get rid of their chocolate boxes as fast as they can. Valentine’s Day will be a thing of the past, and any signs or sales reminiscent of the…
Keep Merry & Bright: 5 Ways to Avoid Holiday Stress this Christmas
It’s no secret that the most wonderful time of the year can turn even the jolliest of us into the Grinch. While Christmas should be a joyful celebration (a Savior has been born who is Christ the Lord!), all the preparation and traditions can sneakily shift our eyes away from the true meaning of Christmas, leaving our homes filled with…
What Exactly is a “Crisis Pregnancy Center?”
The phrase “crisis pregnancy center” may not be familiar to some. To help the local community understand our mission and purpose, here’s a little background about who we are and what we do. WHO IS LIFE’S CHOICES? Life’s Choices began in 1986 as the Crisis Pregnancy Center of Kutztown located in a small college town in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Like…
And Baby Makes Three: Adjusting to Life With Your Partner After Giving Birth
For most couples, bringing home a baby is a greatly anticipated event. They host gender reveal parties with family and friends and gather for baby showers. They prepare the nursery, setting up the crib and changing station and stocking it with impossibly small diapers and onesies. They take childbirth classes and come up with a birthing plan for the hospital.…
I Had a Miscarriage
I had a miscarriage. Even now, almost two decades later, I feel funny sharing this very personal thing. My husband and I had tried for almost a year for our first baby, and we were so excited anticipating the birth of our child. I had an initial ultrasound and everything looked good. I even purchased a soft yellow teddy bear…
Living a Life of Gratitude Beyond Thanksgiving
Gratitude: “The quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.” There have been many times this year when it has been difficult to show gratitude. For many, 2020 has been a year of illness, isolation, financial struggle and uncertainty. And yet, as we celebrate Thanksgiving and reflect on what we do have to be grateful…
Grief: A Fact of Life
Grief is universal, and we have all felt its effects in some way or another. Overwhelming sadness, anger, and regret are just a few emotions we may have when experiencing a loss. Grief affects our physical bodies, our emotions and inner spiritual life in profound ways. The loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, the onset of a sudden…
The Importance of the Mental Health of Children
There’s a lot of talk about the stress and uncertainty our children are facing these days. Will school open on time? Will there be in person classes, online or a hybrid option? Will there be school sports? When will interactions feel “normal” again? It’s hard to answer any of these questions, so it’s important to educate ourselves on the best way…
Anxiety, Fear and COVID-19
Life as we know it has been changing daily since the coronavirus (COVID-19) started hitting the United States (including our community right here in Berks County, Pennsylvania). Businesses and schools are closed, social distancing is the new “normal,” grocery stores are packed and people are hoarding toilet paper. We never saw this coming as we came into 2020, now did we?…
Here for You: Free Pregnancy and Family Resources
At Life’s Choices, we provide a variety of free pregnancy and family resources for the Berks County, Pennsylvania community and beyond. Our mission is to offer non-judgmental, confidential care to women and families, and thanks to the support of our partners and volunteers, we’re able to do just that! Whether you’re seeking prenatal care or looking for ways to foster…