I love introductions! I’m Akira
Being able to do your own introduction is the most beautiful way to remind yourself how remarkable you truly are. To dive into what makes you, you and having the power to choose the way the world sees you in a time of fast facts and curated experiences is so refreshing to be able to just say: This is me.
So to say this opportunity came at the perfect time for me would be a huge understatement. I just celebrated my 37th birthday and it feels like one of those years where I am craving change and I felt instant pressure, but that good pressure, like the diamond making kind.
So here goes, hi it’s me – Akira. I am thrilled to be a part of an experience here at ‘Nesting Story’ where “real” and “honest” are not used as buzzworthy terms but rather to signify embodied experiences that bring about connection and growth. I am really looking forward to sharing my experiences with you; as a mother, a woman, a black woman, an entrepreneur and a Pediatric Sleep Specialist.
I specialize in child sleep. How did that happen you wonder? It was one of those negative turn positive stories that I can’t wait to dive into with you very very soon. But the coles notes are that I became a mom and sleep was non-existent. Not for me, not for my baby and it fundamentally changed who I was at the time for the worst. So long story short I learned everything I possibly could about childhood sleep and hired a sleep consultant to help me navigate improving my child’s sleep and it worked! Like really worked and I felt like myself again. At that moment I decided that advocating for parents’ sleep was going to be how I contributed to my community and I never looked back.
What is special about me and my work (I told you this was my time to shine) is that my mission is not only to get you the sleep solutions you deserve in a way that aligns with your parenting style but to empower a generation of parents who don’t worry about doing the “wrong thing” with sleep. My dream is to see parents who don’t buy into guilt about prioritizing their own sleep needs and their child’s emotional needs.
I have completed extensive sleep education, received credentials from the Institute of Pediatric Sleep and Parenting, a global leader in pediatric sleep and parenting education and have helped hundreds of families improve their sleep and in turn their parenting experience.
And when I am not helping families sleep well I am spending time facing the sun and taking walks by the river near my home in Caledonia, Ontario, catching up with friends, and loving on my husband of 10 years and our 3 beautiful daughters aged 6, 4 and 2.
As my children age I am finding my way back to the things that fulfill me the most outside of family life and career. Do I know what those things are yet? No, not exactly but I’m working on it! Maybe we can see how that unfolds together.
Thank you for reading my thoughts. If you are struggling with your child’s sleep please visit me at www.thesleepgoodco.com for support.