Community Health Centers

Local Community Health Centers contain a wealth of parenting resources in one place.

As a parent, sometimes it's easy to forget those resources that are right under your nose. Today I went to a drop-in group at my local community health center. I used to go every week, but then, well, life got in the way and I stopped going. Today I was reminded of all the great resources available to parents at your local health center. It's like a one-stop-shop - there is scientific and medical information available if you need it, the public health nurse has a wealth of real-life experience to share, and the other parents in your community are there for friendships and other support.

As we sat in a circle and discussed potty training, I saw parents with one child or many, parents of spirited toddlers and easygoing babies, single parents, parents there with their partner, and between all of us we'd seen pretty much every variation on the theme of toilet training small children. "I'm not in this alone!" I thought to myself, and I shared my experience with early potty training for babies with the rest of the group. It turns out that two other moms in the group had started toilet training when their babies were young, with similar experiences as myself.

If you'd like to find a local drop in with a public health nurse but you're not sure if there is one in your area, check with your family doctor at your child's next checkup.