Natalie Nevares, Founder

_"What struck me most about Natalie was how undogmatic she was, which is rare in a scary, judgmental parenting world.  And guess what: After a few days of not forcing naps, my daughter started going to bed earlier and easier.

Some days she even sleeps in until 7am! So now everyone in my family sleeps better, which is Natalie's ultimate goal." 
— Amy Shearn

A few months before my first pregnancy, I was in a tragic car accident in a remote area of the Namibian desert. Our Land Rover swerved off the road, we flipped three times, and landed upside down, crushed in a mess of tangled limbs. After being rescued by stunt pilot Jon Branca and his Medivac jet, I learned I had only sustained mild spinal injuries. I was lucky. My traveling companion Daniela's face was expertly repaired by Namibia's top plastic surgeon, and the woman in the front seat, a mother of a 5 year old girl, was permanently paralyzed from the neck down.

Twelve weeks later, after years of failed attempts, I got pregnant, and soon learned that I hated being pregnant. I spent my entire pregnancy feeling miserable, poisoned by pregnancy hormones, wandering the aisles of baby mega-stores alone. I had no family support, and no friends with kids. During that time, I devoured countless childbirth, parenting and baby sleep books, but became increasingly confused. Every theory contradicted another, and none came with any emotional support.

After a long, traumatic childbirth, I had complications with just about everything. I felt anxious all the time, and could neither sleep nor relax. Plagued with guilt when I returned to my full-time job, I developed a crippling case of chronic insomnia and plummeted into a deep, dark clinical depression. I slept, on average, about 8 hours per week for nearly two years, and began having suicidal thoughts when I learned I was pregnant with my second child.

How I was able to get myself out of this mess is a long painful story, but ultimately, it was driven by my daughter's desire for me to be happy. At 2.5 years old, she started asking me to smile daily, which left me in a heap of uncontrollable sobs. Looking back, I realize what a blessing it was, because it forced me to accept that something was seriously wrong, and seek the professional help I desperately needed.

Somehow, between my two babies, while juggling motherhood, an executive jet-setting career, and enduring extreme sleep-deprivation, I conceptualized Mommywise. It began as a volunteer service in which I helped new moms overcome a variety of  crises, from severe birth trauma to postpartum mood disorders. The work was so profound, it inspired me to leave my 13 year career in Luxury Travel, and devote my life to supporting new families through the early parenting years.

Since launching in 2009, I learned that chronic sleep-deprivation was the most urgent need for new parents, and Mommywise evolved into a unique Sleep Coaching practice designed to help families thrive. I'm duly humbled by Client Testimonials and Press Mentions, and feel truly honored to support families through such a complex, emotional journey.

-Natalie Nevares

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