Well hello there! My name is Christie. I’m a California-based mom and occupational therapist with a background in gymnastics, psychology, and education, and I’m so glad you’ve taken a moment to check out this blog!

I became a mama in 2011 and then, three months later, I began my career as a pediatric occupational therapist (OT). Thus, the origins of MamaOT! I have found myself in the unique position of learning how to be both a mom and an OT simultaneously, and the really amazing thing is that each role teaches me how to do a better job in the other.

Being a new mom has given me a very unique perspective as I work with families to further their children’s development, especially when it comes to working with very young ones (as young as 5 months old so far). I can really empathize and connect with the parents of my clients when they ask me about things like sleep deprivation, teething, feeding, or baby toys because I am going through it right along with them!

Conversely, being a part of the OT world has given me such a great pool of knowledge and hands-on experience from which to pull as I interact with and care for my own child. What a blessing! Every time I learn something new as an OT, I think to myself, I wish everyone who worked with kids knew about that!

Hence, this blog, which was started in April 2012.

They say it takes a village to raise a child, and I am learning first-hand that that is absolutely true! No one of us can do this by ourselves. We need other people to support us as we invest ourselves into caring for children of all ages. So whether you are a parent, foster parent, family member, babysitter, nanny, or a friend who’s just helping out, my hope is that I can be a part of your “village”. I will do my best to supply you with helpful tips, tricks, ideas, and resources that will boost your ability to care for the kids in your life.

Although many topics I address on this blog will be the direct result of something I’ve experienced while raising my own child (thus often reflecting ideas beneficial for other children of his similar age), I will aim to cover topics that can be applied to older and younger children as well. Please take a moment to check out the categories covered on this blog by clicking on the “Home” tab at the top of this page and then reading through the list on the right side of the page. My vision is that this blog will be a lighthearted space filled with helpful ideas and information, rather than something to make you feel insecure about how your child is developing relative to generic lists of what kids “should” be doing at various ages. If you are interested in reading about issues related to a particular stage of life or skill level that has not yet been covered, let me know by sending an email to mamaotblog [at] gmail [dot] com and I will do my best to put together a post that will help you out (though I can’t guarantee it).

Although I am a registered and licensed occupational therapist, this is not a place for skilled therapeutic intervention. The ideas presented on this blog are for informational purposes only and are not medical advice. A kid-oriented website, no matter how useful it may be, can never replace an individualized treatment plan developed as the result of assessment, clinical observation, and collaboration between therapist, caregiver, and (if applicable) child. If you are concerned about the development or functional abilities of a particular child in your life, then that child’s parent should talk with the pediatrician or seek out the services of a developmental pediatrician or a local occupational therapist/therapy clinic.

Thanks so much for allowing me to be a part of your “village”. I hope this blog will be a helpful resource to you and I look forward to the journey that lies ahead!

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