Did you know that April 21’st is National Infertility Awareness Week? The Site Curator, Ellie, is gonna get personal with you all because this week’s Meet a Mom hits home. I have not spoken about it on this platform before but it’s no secret that for many years I suffered from infertility + a few miscarriages for years before conceiving our first child (now 9) AND second child (now seven). Part of the MANY ways in which I chose to deal with the unknown was through acupuncture and yoga for fertility at Pulling Down the Moon (many moons ago!). This is why I am so excited to introduce to you New Jersey native now North Shore mama of two beautiful girls, Director of Acupuncture at Pulling Down the Moon, Christine Davis! Pulling Down the Moon is a holistic wellness center with three Chicagoland locations. Christine is excited to share with you mom hacks, favorite books and most importantly advice about how to slow down and declutter (your mind that is). Welcome Christine! Spoiler alert, scroll down to see a few awesome discounts for this month!
Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in town?
I grew up in NJ, moved out to Chicago about 25 years ago and moved with my family to Highland Park about 4 years ago. Came kicking and screaming because I loved living in the city, but have really enjoyed being surrounded by nature, the charm of downtown Highland Park, walking to Ravinia and the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Child(ren) and Age(s)?
Two girls, 6 & 9
One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
I got my Bachelor Degree in Fine Art from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Fiber Arts. I jokingly say that I still work with needles, but just in a slightly different fashion. I still love to crochet and sew when I can.
Favorite mom hack?
Laugh as much as possible.
Favorite place to take the kids?
The beach. Rosewood Beach is the most gorgeous place in the whole world. We can spend all day there just enjoying the water and sun. We even go in the winter (sometimes).
Guilty pleasure (ie. Food, desert, snack, hobby)?
Award shows. I watched them with my mom growing up, so I’ve always had a fondness for them. I rarely even get to see the movies/shows/music beforehand. I’m not very nice when I miss the red carpet.
Go-to cosmetic “tired eraser”?
SLEEP.
Favorite family movie?
Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies. We all laughed so much!
Favorite book for you?
This is a hard one!! I’ve always loved anything by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Gatsby, of course, but This Side of Paradise, all the short stories – all heartbreakingly beautiful. I love all things Jazz Age and there’s no one who epitomizes that era better than Fitzgerald.
Favorite Children’s book?
I just started reading the Chronicles of Narnia with my daughter and am loving it! I didn’t read them before, so it’s exciting. Also, I could read anything by Roald Dahl a hundred times and not get sick of it.
A perfect day with the family is….
Hard to come by, but when everyone gets to decide a little part of the day, it all adds up to a good one. This challenging winter has brought more fireplace fires, music listening, reading, playing creatively, and snuggling, so I’m very grateful for that!
Anyone special you’d like to thank for helping you through parenthood?
All the other parents who acknowledge how challenging this path can be. There is so much on social media and even in real life that makes us feel inadequate. We are being held up to an impossible ideal of perfect parenting, being a perfect employee, a perfect spouse, a perfect homemaker. It’s impossible to do it all all the time. I know I’ve found a kindred spirit when I meet someone who says, “This is really hard! Let’s help each other out!”
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share!
I am the Director of Acupuncture at Pulling Down the Moon, a holistic wellness center with locations in Highland Park, Buffalo Grove, and Chicago. We offer acupuncture, massage, yoga, and nutritional counseling. Although our focus is primarily fertility, we really treat everything. I have been in practice for 15 years and there is very little I haven’t seen! Although acupuncture is known to help with things like pain, infertility, and anxiety, it can also be helpful for almost anything – respiratory issues, allergies, headaches/migraines, poor digestion (IBS, bowel issues, heartburn/acid reflux), skin issues, problems with the nervous system, chronic illness, addictions, men’s issues (ED, infertility, etc), women’s issues (menstrual concerns, endometriosis, PCOS, infertility), common childhood problems … really, you name it!
What advice do you have for our readers with respect to holistic living?
In Chinese Medicine, we say that the “good doctor treats a healthy patient.” It means that we try to identify problems before they get out of hand. Most of the work I do as an acupuncturist involves educating my clients on ways that they can keep themselves and their families healthy so that they don’t become ill or so that illness doesn’t progress. One of the best things you can do is to look at your home environment and try to eliminate and avoid toxic substances. Buy organic food when you can, choose foods that do not have additives like food coloring and preservatives, use vinegar to clean your home instead of more toxic substances, choose laundry detergent and skin care products (including makeup!) that are good for the environment (it’s good for you, too!). However, as you look at detoxing your home and your environment, I feel that it is critical to thoughtfully get rid of items: recycle what you can, donate or sell what is still useable, and most importantly, as you shop, think carefully about every item that comes into your home. Remember that everything you buy, everything you own will one day move on to someone else or the landfill. Let’s do our best to take care of our world so that our kids and grandkids can enjoy it’s beauty, too!
What’s on the horizon?
I’m so grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to help so many people on their journey – with fertility, with relieving pain, with better quality of life. At Pulling Down the Moon, we have also started a program to help kids who struggle with anxiety. This is a major issue that gets worse every year. I worry so much for my own kids and all that they are confronted with because of the internet, school pressures, and social pressure. It is critical that we give our kids the tools to find their own internal strength and ability to cope with emotional problems as they arise. Teaching meditation and yoga early on can help with offsetting the effects of a stressful experience or life event. Acupuncture can help with finding calm and resetting the nervous system when toxic anxiety and stress make life feel overwhelming. Gentle touch massage (clothing on) can be an amazing way to create awareness of the areas in which we hold stress physically and help to release that tension. Finally, nutrition can be a huge wild card for children (and adults) in determining our emotional health: without the nutrients we need, it can be an uphill battle to feel good. Small changes like these can go a long way to finding the joyful, balanced life we are searching for.
For more information on about the youth anxiety program and acupuncture call 312-321-0004 or email Christine directly: [email protected].
In this photo staff from PDTM. L to R:Beth Heller, Christine Davis, Tami Quinn, Cassie Harrison, Michelle Johann, Meredith Nathan
Pulling Down the Moon has three locations for your convenience:
Highland Park: 1770 First Street, Suite 400, Highland Park, IL 60035, (312) 957-6235
Buffalo Grove: 135 N. Arlington Heights Road, Suite 195 (Located within FCI office), Buffalo Grove, IL 60089, (312) 957-6235
Chicago: 770 N LaSalle Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60654, (312) 957-6235
Join Pulling Down the Moon for the many event offerings at all three locations and webinars from the comfort of your home like this one: Monday, April 22 for a FREE Webinar Reducing Fertility Stress One Breath At A Time!
And finally, click here to view excellent promos for this month like 50% off yoga for fertility and FREE acupuncture follow-up sessions with the purchase of your initial consult!