Maisie Ruttan
Career coach helping parents thrive at work and home
Details
- CategoryBack-To-Work Coach
- Job LocationVirtually
- Location:Cullinan Street, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Dear Family
Hey, I’m Maisie! A family sleep specialist and parenting coach. I’m also a boy-mom to a couple of energetic twins who challenge me every day. I’m the mom with the messy “mom bun,” yoga pants, and sticky floors. I have been where you are, and know how hard parenting can feel. Heck I’m still there some days! 😵💫 I live in a small town, on the west coast of Canada, with my husband, and the twins. We’ve got a couple of rescue cats, and are newly raising chickens on our “wanna be homestead.” In the evenings you can find me reading, scrolling or watching netflix while my hubby does bedtime. And, other than that, I’m waddling through the parenting trenches just like you!
My Favourite Memory
I can vividly remember the early newborn days with my twins, where most of my time was spent breastfeeding (or trying to), offering bottle top ups and pumping trying to ensure my boys were fed. But once we got the feeding stuff sorted out my twins slept pretty good (for twins!!) So as they entered toddlerhood, I thought I was free and clear. You see, there’s this assumption and expectation that sleep gets better as children grow up.I believed this. Even as a sleep coach. So when my twins started sleeping worse than they did as newborns, I was completely thrown. No one really talks about how hard sleep is beyoooond the baby years. I mean sure, everyone knows that kids don’t want to go to bed, and can drag their feet. That’s a given But, no one tells you that your child is going to go wild after transitioning out of the crib, or that they will start clinging onto you more at bedtime, refusing to be left alone, or that they’ll start waking up and climbing into your bed overnight. So when these things started happening, I felt like a crap parent, and an even crappier sleep consultant. I blamed myself for the lack of consistency, and chalked it up to poor boundaries. I questioned whether the timing was right, or if I was letting them stay up too late, and criticized myself for letting them watch too much TV and eat crap food for dinner. None of this was true. I mean, sure all of these things are helpful, but my biggest problem was that I had unrealistic expectations of what kids were actually capable of. When I leaned into their developmental needs and focused on nurturing connection, fostering healthy sleep habits, and finding ways for them to practice being more independent… my life transformed. Sleep is finally predictable. Bedtime is a breeze, and my evenings (and bed) are finally my own. You can have this too.
My Experience
When working together I’ll be your biggest fan, your go-to support person and your sleep sherpa. I’ll be sharing a wealth of knowledge, tools and insights that pull from more than 17 years of experience working with families in various capacities I’ve had the privilege of speaking at several online conferences, offering professional development for sleep coaches and childcare professionals. I’ve also been a mentor for less experienced sleep coaches learning to better support families with multiples, and children beyond infancy. I have coached hundreds of families using my Heart-Centered, FREEDOM Framework, and can confidently say it works (even if you feel like you’ve already tried everything).
My Education
I am fortunate to have studied under some of the most respected people in the sleep and parenting space, including the amazing Dr. Lyndsey Hookway, Dr. Laura Markham, and the Dr. Gordon Neufeld Institute. I have completed more than 7 years of university education, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology with distinction, and registration as a Psychiatric Nurse. Additionally, I’ve maintained countless hours of professional development. I am multi-certified as a Holistic Sleep Coach (OCN Level 6), Infant Sleep Educator, and Peaceful Parenting Educator, with additional training in cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia, and developmental theory.
Location
Maisie Ruttan
Maisie Ruttan
€150.00 per hour