Letter: Canceled class was great resource for parents

As a new parent there are many questions and for every question there turns out to be more answers.

Aren't there books to tell me exactly what to do? What about YouTube videos or an inspired friend's Facebook post? In the information age there is no lack of ways to find answers, if I say, 'Hey, Google, how do I get my son to nap?”, I will get an answer. Will it be useful or just 'I don't know that yet, but I'm learning”? Yeah, me, too, Google.

In August 2017, a month after our son was born, St. Luke's discontinued their Mommy & Me classes.

My wife and I have many questions on what is 'right” for our son. Mommy & Me seemed to be the best move, meet other new parents face to face, learn from each other, and have a professional nurse present to clear the hearsay and be up-to-date on professional research.

Doing her research as a newly expectant mom, my wife found that both hospitals had great prenatal classes, but Mommy & Me was the postnatal resource. She was able to attend the final three classes, since then we have made our own way, but we can't help feeling that while digging the depths of the internet, or flipping pages of countless library books, our question could have been solved and talked over in a face to face group where there was less doubt, no advertisement, no judgment, and especially more support.

Chris Dvorak

Cedar Rapids