National Infertility Awareness Week!!

I know, sounds odd.  But I’m truly excited about this week.  This is an opportunity for those who may not understand or know anything about this subject to learn and advocate and become aware.  That, in and of itself, is cause for celebration.  There are quite a few things taking place this week so be sure and check out Resolve, the National Infertility Association for news and events.

The first National Infertility Awareness Week was introduced in the Senate to begin October 8, 1989, the fifteenth year of Resolve .  View the legislative bill  here.  Since then, there have been great strides in the push for awareness and activism through this week.  Resolve provides a great resource in information kits and volunteer ideas, including Facebook and Twitter status donation, to help everyone participate in this great week.

One major endeavor taking place this year is ProjectIF, a collaboration between Resolve and Melissa Ford of StirrupQueens.  The list is powerful and heartfelt, as it contains an ever-growing number of “what-if” statements from men and women around the world concerning their feelings toward infertility.

take out one of the “what ifs” that keep knocking around inside your heart, keeping you awake at night, and allow the larger community to commiserate, empathize and help you carry your burden by reading your words. – Mel

WOW. Some of these what-ifs are just time-stopping.  Seriously.  Go on over and take a look.  If you are a blogger who is dealing with infertility, I’d also advise you to participate!

Well, for this here blog this week, I’ve decided to skinny dip into the land of Vlogging.  (Soo not my forte).  i wanted to be able to provide something unique and hopeful to this community that would make ME feel good, while educating others.  SO, I decided to combine my passion (words and writing), with my profession, (librarianship), and do a series of booktalks.  The twist is that these booktalks will feature CHILDREN’S BOOKS! *happy dance*.  Now, yall be nice…I’ve never done the video thing before….

We often get so caught up in the struggle of conception and pregnancy, that sometimes we neglect to talk about what happens AFTER the children are here.  The issue of talking to children about our family-building choices is one that is rarely discussed but extremely necessary.  So, I did some digging and pulled out a few that I LOVE, and will be video-blogging about them here.  At the end of the week, I will also be giving away a pdf list of titles for you to find at your local library and to share!

So, like I said, HAPPY National Infertility Awareness Week! April 24 – May1, 2010

Parr, Todd. We Belong Together. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2007. Print. Search your local libraries – Worldcat Search