The Weekly Newspaper of Inglewood
Herald Publications - El Segundo, Hawthorne, Lawndale & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 69, No. 10 - March 5, 2020
Public Safety Appreciation Brunch
The Agape Church Los Angeles honored members of law enforcement at the Public Safety Appreciation Brunch. Christine Devine - News Anchor hosted today’s event which focused on saluting community leaders in public safety. LASD Sheriff Villanueva presented Lieutenant
Scott Collins and Sergeant Reginald Blaylock with certificates for their contributions to law enforcement and the communities they serve. Bishop Craig A. Worsham presented Lieutenant Collins with a Certificate of Commendation for his distinguished service in the community.
Sergeant Blaylock received a Community Service Award for his distinguished service to his community. Photo Inglewood Police Department.
Your Neighborhood
Therapist
Dear Neighborhood Therapist,
I’m a new mom. My husband works while I
stay at home all day with this beautiful child,
and often my only interaction with another
human being is changing diapers and feeding.
If I go back to work, it will basically just
pay for us to hire a nanny, so then I end up
working for nothing and being away from my
child. Everyone tells me this is supposed to be
the best time of my life, but I’m lonely and
miserable. I feel like I cannot tell anyone about
this. I feel like a totally inadequate mother and
therefore a totally inadequate person. What is
wrong with me? What am I doing wrong?
- Lost at Home, El Segundo
Dear Lost at Home,
This is an easy one. Coordinate your maternity
and paternity leave over the next several
months so that both of you can take the needed
time to bond with your child and learn to live
as a family. Once the child is robust enough,
take them to the free, high quality child care
center down the street next to the kindergarten.
Enjoy this time to be together with your child
and bond with them, going to the playground
and meeting other parents who have children
of similar ages. When you need a break, get
a babysitter and go out on a date with your
husband. Join a mom’s group and trade tips
and secrets.
Wait, what? We don’t have free preschool?
Maternity leave isn’t enough? (We’re lucky in
California - most states have none.) Wait, and
you also don’t have family who lives nearby?
Or your parents are elderly and cannot take
care of a newborn? Wait, and because you’re
not working, and because babysitting costs a
lot, it’s also too expensive to go out on a date?
And on top of all that, you’re not naturally
an extrovert, or you don’t like comparing
yourself to other moms at a mom’s group? If
you answered “true” to any of these questions,
then you must be an inadequate mother and
person! Right?
Of course not. This is not easy; it’s impossible.
You are one of millions in what I call
a Postpartum Situation, under the thumb of
a system not set up (ahem, set up mostly by
men) to support new families, especially now
that one salary is no longer enough to support
most families in Southern California. It
is a system that blames mothers for anything
that goes wrong, adding enormous pressure to
an already intense situation. It is a huge and
horrible problem.
So what to do? In dire circumstances,
connection with others is often the best way
forward. Do you have anyone you are comfortable
connecting with? If not, let me know.
I am starting a Secret Kindness Club in El
Segundo and I can help connect you.
To everyone else: do you know any new
parents? Sometimes they are really struggling
even if it does not seem that way. If you have
a chance to reach out and help, do not pass
it up. You may make more of a difference in
the life of a friend or acquaintance than you
can possibly realize.
Please write to tom@tomandrecounseling.
com or text to 310.776.5299 with questions
about handling what is affecting your life,
your family, the community or the world. Tom
Andre is an Associate Marriage & Family
Therapist (AMFT96089) supervised by Chris
Thomas (MFT78020). The information in
this column is for educational purposes only
and nothing herein should be construed as
professional advice or the formation of a
therapeutic relationship. •
Create & Express from front page
Brooks hosts meditation sessions that she calls
“Intuitive Meditation.”
“Intuitive Meditation is the place in you that
you go to—to where you are grounded and
where no one else exists except you. In this
place, you begin to explore levels of yourself
you knew existed but did not know how to
access or recognize.”
By exploring aspects of yourself and
learning new techniques to stay present
and grounded, Brooks believes that people
can lead stronger, healthier lives. Plus,
with the addition of a healing stone or
crystal, the journey to self-discovery is even
more pleasant.
At Create & Express, customers have the
opportunity to explore authentic relics and
unique creations that also amplify the spirit
and bring solace to a trembling heart.
For instance, Brooks curates a massive selection
of gemstones that each have their own
distinct properties to help someone in need. A
good example of healing properties comes from
a stone called Aventurine—a light green stone
that promotes focus, creativity, good fortune, and
protects against environmental pollution. With
another stone called Howlite, those in possession
can enjoy a stronger sense of patience and a
stimulated desire for knowledge. It even helps
balance calcium levels throughout the body.
One of the great things about Create &
Express, too, is that Brooks and her creative
team offer little cards with all the corresponding
information for each stone. If you’re searching
around her shop, but you’re unsure about what
properties a certain crystal has, you can easily
read about it and keep the reference with you
once you make a purchase.
It’s a highly supportive and friendly atmosphere
that cherishes connection and
community. Brooks promotes that mission even
further by offering her gem shop as a creative
outlet for aspiring, local artisans.
“In addition to True Insight and Create &
Express, we also feature many artisans from
the local community! We now showcase over
25 artisans, artists, and makers.”
Ranging from colorful paintings to essential
oils and handmade jewelry, local artists
can find a home for their work that beats the
hustle of setting up shop outdoors and waiting
for customers. Brooks offers a generous
consignment plan for goods sold, giving artists
a professional in-store experience, while still
honoring the fun and beauty of searching for
one-of-a-kind treasures.
Brooks has just gotten back from Tucson
with a brand new load of rocks and crystals
that she plans to rollout in the coming weeks.
You can check them out for yourself—Tuesday
through Friday—between 10 AM and 8 PM.
On the weekends, Create & Express is open
from 11 AM to 6 PM.
“Thank YOU for being a part of the journey,”
says Brooks.
To learn more about meditation at True
Insight, visit trueinsightspiritualcenter.org to
see the full course schedule. •
“I’m into crystals and good energy and harnessing more.
It’s just like prayer. It helps you be grateful, think about
good things, and keep that positive energy around you.”
– Kali Uchis