So, what the heck is “POSH Parenting” anyway?
March 22, 2023 | Written By Dr. Shanelle Bolton
POSH Parenthood: Prenatal to Preschool spotlights the world of parenting and caring for young children, from top to bottom. Whether you’re mulling over the idea of starting your own family or are juggling daily life with babies and toddlers running about in a classroom setting (and everything in between)…I’ve got you covered! We’re going to chat about it and I’ll share my real-life experiences. No topic is off-limits.
In other words, I’m focused on breaking down parenting barriers and sharing necessary, relevant information, empowering you to make the best possible decisions that are fundamental to your life. We’ll do it with facts and information, with humor and whimsy, with compassion and respect…and at times, a little bit of flair (aka POSH)!
Are you ready??
I am! But first…
Who am I?
Great question!
In short, I’m an IVF (In vitro-Fertilization), Parenting, and Family Specialist, and an Early Childhood Pedagogist. Learn more about that and how we can work together here!
However, peeking deeper into my background as a professional, I can also tell you that I am an accomplished executive-level international educational leader and change agent. I have a well-rounded background in Early Childhood Development and Educational Innovation and I apply my experiences by fiercely championing advances in equity within the early childhood sphere, aiming to allow all young children and their caregivers the opportunities that will help them prosper and flourish at their pace and at their abilities.
Having worked in various cultural and socio-economic settings, I understand how critically important and multifaceted addressing early educational disparities are to creating generational success and sustainability for underserved populations. Therefore, I am always committed to pursuing excellence in all of my Early Childhood Education (ECE) endeavors!
I am also an experienced teacher with dual certification in Early Childhood and General Childhood Education, I hold a B.A. in Psychology, a dual Master’s degree in Early Childhood and General Childhood Education, a Master’s degree in Library Information Science and Technology, and a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership and Innovation from NYU.
Personally, I can tell you that “Shanelle, the person” can be, at times, a little enigmatic and unorthodox. I live my life my way and pride myself on being staunchly independent (which may be a good and a not-so-good trait…but maybe more about that in a future post).
For the purposes of this site, you should know that I made the choice to become a single parent after some “not so great” relationships…and some deep (really deep) conversations with a trusted and respected therapist who let me know that it was indeed ok to consider alternatives to traditional parenting…very sadly this therapist passed away from cancer early last year. It shook me to the core when I found out she had been battling cancer for years. We were the same age and, being the professional that she was, she never let on. I think about her and her advice often…maybe at some point I’ll write more about it and her guiding influence, but needless to say, I truly do not think I would have decided to pursue this parenting path solo without her support and words of wisdom. In turn, I want to share with others what she shared with me.
Well, not wanting to put my parenting journey on hold waiting for Mr. Right, who may come later rather than sooner, this decision to become a solo parent has proven to be the BEST decision of my life. With this site, I want others to know that there are options other than what is considered to be a conventional parenting journey (and that they are becoming increasingly popular)!
I do not promise that it will always be easy. As an IVF patient, I have suffered a chemical pregnancy and am an ectopic pregnancy survivor, and as a solo mom, there are times when I just want to pull my hair out…
…but I know, at least for me, it is so worth it and I have never been happier. I want to share my stories, hear your stories, and learn together!
A little more about me…
I am a proud native of the Bronx, NY (although I love to represent both the Bronx and Harlem since I often visited my family there growing up).
I am passionate about food and nutrition. I love to cook and experiment with varied recipes. I am actually working on a website with food/nutritional content, recipes, videos, and meal plans for busy moms/families. Stay tuned!
Some more random facts:
● As a world traveler, I adore experiencing various places, people, and cultures.
● I consistently practice meditation, calmness, and periods of solitude.
● One of my dreams is to give a TED Talk!
So…
Do you see yourself in any of this? Even if you don’t right now, this site wants to help empower you with knowledge, awareness, and laughter during your POSH parenting journey! You can expect evidence-based and research-driven posts on topics spanning the spectrum of parenting, early education, relationships and more!
You can also sign up on the homepage to get updates, useful info, and more sent to your inbox!
Let’s get started!
