Self-published author Alexis Schmittler visited Carmi Kiwanis on Thursday to discuss how her book, “Becoming Her,” came to life.
Becoming Her: A Journey of Faith, Motherhood, and Finding Myself Again grew out of notes she began writing a few weeks postpartum with her second child, Steele, and was published about six months later. The book is a personal account rather than a chapter book about the feelings mothers go through during motherhood, including postpartum depression, anxiety, and rage. She shared that the central message was that people can be grateful for their lives while still struggling inside, and should not have to face the difficulties alone.
“You can have a wonderful support system and still feel lonely. My faith played a huge role in helping me through this season. I wrote it because I wanted other women to know they weren’t alone. I wanted to talk about things that we sometimes keep to ourselves because we’re afraid of being judged or labeled as a bad mom. More than anything, I wanted to remind women what they’re feeling is important too.”
Schmittler also highlighted locally available resources for women to use. The Pregnancy Help Center offers free services and resources for women and families navigating pregnancy and parenting. These include free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, items for mothers and families, and education courses for infant CPR, car seat safety, and more. The Pregnancy Help Center is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and you can call them at 618-383-6640.
Another highlight Schmittler mentioned is the P.A.W.S. Bulldog Program, which helps local mothers and families. Her mother, Beth Conner, has continued this program for over ten years, helping students in grades 4-12 whose families may need additional support during the holiday season. The program helps about 200 children in Carmi. Community members can sponsor a child directly, donate funds for volunteers to shop, or help with shopping. The program is available now; you can contact Conner at Little Sprouts at 618-382-7604.
Alexis’ book, Becoming Her, is available on Amazon, or you can buy paperback copies for $16.99. You can also download it as a Kindle book.
Next week at Kiwanis, the Drama Department will be visiting.