Today's feast - at least in the Traditional Latin Mass is the Feast of the Holy Family.
I think this is a great time to consider what the Holy Family went through. 
Mary and Joseph couldn't find "room in the inn" so they had their first born son- Jesus and laid him "in a manager" in "swaddling clothes".
I love this one - we like to train our doulas to know about swaddling the baby - so it is right here in the bible too! 
So, the shepherds come and worship.
I believe the Holy Family must have also did the circumcision in the manager most likely.  This is when Jesus was named as well.  They must have  gone to the temple to "purify Mary" though she was 100 percent holy - this was tradition and Mary submitted to this ritual. Then I believe the 3 wise men came sometime after this - that's just how I would see the order of things. It mentions that the three kings came to a "house" find the verse. So, the Holy Family did have a place in Bethlehem  somewhere - now it could be that the cave/stable was near a house - so I don't know for sure if they were in a real house or still in the stable area when the wise men came - but the did see  a star. However, remember in the Bible, the Wise Men even stopped in Jerusalem - it seemed the star had disappeared for a short time - they found out that the prophecies suggested the baby would be born in Bethlehem. They did seem to find the star again and find Jesus! 
After the wisemen left their gifts, an angel told them to go home a different way. Then, another angel appeared to Joseph to go fly to Egypt as  Herod was after killing all the babies ! So, Joseph obeyed and took Mary , Jesus and  went immediately in the middle of the night to Egypt! Imagine the Holy Family being "homeless" in a way for a few years in Egypt. I am sure they did find a place to live, etc. Joseph was  a resourceful man! Then finally, they hear from an angel that it is safe to return - but to go to Nazareth a safer region to live in. So, this is why Jesus is called a Nazarene.
So, what does all of above have to do with being a doula. First of all, we should meditate on life of Jesus - it is good for our doula souls! Secondly, we are reminded by this narrative, that no mother is perfect - she may have moved around 100 times or not be in the best place at this moment in her life - but she's having a baby and needs your best support. Don't judge a mother because of her circumstances. Look at the Holy Family they were even were homeless! 
Third, the Holy Family shows that no matter what God is with us. If we are feeling discourage in our doula business - then pray and God will provide our needs and desires. So, think about above and pray to God for your doula business needs. Pray to the Holy Family! 

Being a doula for a year has been one incredible journey. I have loved every moment of it. But somethings I wish I knew when I started my doula business are the following tips. These tips we hope you can become a better doula from or even learn more for your FUTURE business as a doula.

1. Don't bother with what other doulas think of you. Not every doula is going to like you. It isn't a field where most people like each other. I really was hoping that we all could work together but the competition can be hot. Don't let other's tear you down and what they do with their business you don't have to do with yours.

2.  Set a Goal for your Business each month. Something I wish I did in the beginning of my business is creating goals in the beginning I just did my training when I could and that worked but as I got other jobs at the same time it was really hard on my system to keep it all organized.

3. Take time to improve yourself with more training and knowledge. Even if you don't offer lots of different packages in everything like babywearing, birth, postpartum, fertility, nutrition... etc. You can always learn more. Learn it so you can teach your clients what they may want to know. Take a different training each year to improve yourself.

4. Take a Training that you agree with morally. So many trainings have different mission statements. You may not agree with abortion, you may not want to take a training that supports that. You may also want to see what you believe in on other things as well as something you can learn before your training.

5. Don't forget that being a doula is after all a business and it is work. You need to remember to take care of yourself and don't obsess over this so much that you are unable to take care of your health, and family time. 

Being a doula is amazing and I hope to continue being a doula for as long as I can before other things come up. But I wish I knew some of these things before I took my training, before having issues with other doulas because the competition was hot. Think about it and really do your research.

These are just the opinions of one doula. Lisa van der Wilt. 

 1. 100% Pro-life training - we will never preach anything that is against life from conception to birth - this is a child in God's eyes. No "abortion doula" baloney. All life is precious! If we get to a fertility doula course, no contraception (birth control) as this is also anti-life. 
2. We are not politically correct! (We refer usually to father as that father/partner/husband) and mother as mother! 
3. We offer spiritual based training from Gifts of Holy Ghost to Joys or Sorrows of Mary included in our training! 
4. We want our students to be happy--interaction with student/teachers are important to us. 
5. We devote a lot of time to making the curriculum affordable and updating it often--keeping it evidenced based as much as possible. 
6. Rebozo training is included in the cost -- no need to take an extra rebozo course (birth doula only for this). 
7. We offer all things in a Christian/Catholic format -- no "goddess worship". 
8. Get a Mexican rebozo shawl with your birth doula course! ​

We have decided to add in our Herbal Course for pregnancy and postpartum this month. We don't offer this course that often -- so enroll today and be amazed at how much you can learn in as little as 7 weeks. First week is get into class and get your supplies. Second week we start with formal training -- the modules. We have 6 modules of fun filled activities. Need extra mentorship? Just ask us! Videos and websites are linked in each module. Only one major assignment is needed to be awarded the certificate of completion and 6 Continuing Education units from Catholic Doula Program! Mothers and doulas are welcome to take the course. Yes, guys are welcome. :)

Link to course enrollment page is here: www.catholicdoula.com/herbal-course.html