SWAMPSCOTT — The town is going all-out to extend a helpful olive branch to overwhelmed parents — free of charge.
The town’s health Department has partnered with Christine Doucet to offer this free experience for Swampscott parents. The series of events is titled “Four-Part Mindful Parenting and Stress Reduction Series,” with the goal of mitigating some of the stress that comes with navigating the challenges of parenthood.
The event spans throughout the month and is located at the town’s library, with the upcoming session slated for Tuesday from 10-11:30 a.m. The next event is scheduled for the following week on May 13, with another date scheduled for May 20. Each event is at the same time and all events will take place at the library.
“Mindful parenting is a way of being that helps in dealing with parental stress and being more present,” the flyer stated.
The event will be interactive for participants. Discussions will be held that touch on the challenges of parenthood, as well as activities where participants can learn practical tools to incorporate mindfulness, self-compassion and emotional awareness — with the goal of teaching control and gratitude into the lives of participants.
Designed for parents or caregivers, participants must be 18 years or older in order to participate. Space for the events is limited, and registration is required prior to attending.
Doucet has been working closely with families for more than 40 years. Most recently, she served as a Family Support Specialist for the city of Cambridge, where she worked to implement mindful practices in its programs, according to the flyer for the event.
She is also a fellow of the UMASS Fellowship in Early Relational Health, and is a certified Infant Massage Trainer. Doucet trained as a Nurse Midwife in her native country, France, and remains committed to advocating for and supporting families.
The program, which is part of the town’s Health Department’s Public Health and Mental Health programs and initiatives, was created using a portion of the town’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
