Hi, I'm Helen Cammack and I'm the only Parenthood Planner that I know about.
My mission is to make parenthood planning something that everyone does, so that parenthood is more intentional and purposeful, and enjoyable for parents.
I started my parenthood planning business as a result of my own personal experience of anxiety and fear about the prospect of becoming a parent.
Anxiety and fear were with me nearly all the way on my 15-year journey towards parenthood, through....
- my 20s when I didn’t want children (but was anxious about whether or not I would regret it)
- my 30s when I felt ambivalent about parenthood, having to decide before the fertility window closed, then going through infertility anyway (with lots of mixed feelings about it)
- my early 40s when I finally became an adoptive parent
It was only in the last stages of my journey that I discovered that parenthood planning was the secret to lift my anxiety and fear about parenthood, and make me optimistic and ready to be a parent.
I'm happy to talk about any of the different stages of my own personal journey to parenthood - indecision, ambivalence, deciding and UK adoption.
I'm also delighted to talk about parenthood planning, and any of its different aspects, which include:
- setting realistic expectations of parenthood, so that you can protect your mental health
- building supportive foundations, including mapping support networks, making sure your relationship is ready, and ensuring that you're living in the right community and the right housing for raising a family
- setting inspiring goals for parenthood, and understanding your motivation
- creating a logistical plan that works, including a career plan, your plan for how to divide the domestic labour, and a childcare plan
- financially planning parenthood, including financial goal-setting, saving, budgeting, and figuring out what lifestyle changes you'll need to make and how your finances affect your logistical plan (and vice versa)
- creating an actionable roadmap (and planning your timings) and action plan, and engaging all the stakeholders in your journey to and through parenthood, such as your own parents and wider family, your boss and your partner.
