Community

TheR

: €view Wednesday, February 21,1990 — A292
ge

Men have babies too

by Valorie Lennox
The Review

“Men do get pregnant,” says
Jim Johnson, describing the
impact of a couple having a child.

The morning his son was born,
on Oct. 24 last year, “I felt like I
was a million miles high.

“They brought him to me and
this big man of 200-pounds plus,
my legs started to wobble and I
had to sit down.”

Three days later a medical com-
plication sent his son and wife to
Victoria General Hospital. John-
son was devastated — and there
seemed to be no one who could
listen to his fears.

“It was a dramatic experience
for me.”

Little Thomas James recovered
and came home with mother Kat-
heryne. But the experience showed
Johnson how much new fathers
need information and support.

“Being a new father can be very
scary,” he says. :

To meet the need, Johnson

‘Being a new father
can be very scary’

started a Father’s Support Group.
The group meets every second
Saturday morning from 9:30 to
11:30 a.m. in St. Paul’s United
Church, 5th and Malaview, Sidney.

Fathers and fathers-to-be are
welcome to come and share ques-
tions and information.

Johnson notes there are more
formal and informal support
groups for mothers: either parent-
ing information classes or the
sharing of ideas over a cup of

PLAYING MR. MOM with son Thomas is Jim Johnson, who
cares for the thriving four-month-old in the mornings. John-
son has started a Father's Support Group for men who want
more information about parenting.

coffee with a friend.
“There’s a lot more women’s
groups out there than there are for

men.”

Compared to earlier generations,

when men spent little time with

children, many fathers in two-
career families now tackle parent-
ing.

Johnson looks after son Thomas
every moming while his wife goes
to work.

“T quite enjoy playing Mr. Mom. -
We have quality time — and we
have not-so-much-quality time
sometimes.”

The not-so-much-quality time
are those mornings when the
usually cheerful Thomas cries

, says father

take a more responsive role.”
The new role can raise some
eyebrows among the older genera-
ion. Johnson has been repeatedly
Stopped by senior ladies who want
to give him advice or who wonder
where the baby’s mother has gone.
Johnson says care giving is not

related to gender. “I have two® 2

capable arms and a brain to be

able to take care of my son.”
Popular movies like Mr. Mom

and Three Men and a Baby back

‘ have two capable arms anda *
brainto be able totakecareofmy  }
son’

non-stop for hours, despite John-
son’s efforts.

In the afternoon, Katheryne
looks after Thomas and Johnson
goes to his afternoon shift as a
custodian at North Saanich Mid-
dle School.

In the past year, three teachers at
the school have become new par-
ents. The four, including Johnson,
frequently exchange parenting
ideas in quick hallway conversa-
tions.

“There is quite a baby boom
going on right now,” he said.

Most of the parents are older. At
the pre-natal class which Johnson
and his wife attended, the first-
lime parents ranged from 28 to 38
years old.

In addition to being older, first-
time parents are usually both
working. Johnson suspects he is
not the only father in Sidney
whose care for his son extends to
changing diapers and walking the
stroller.

“In society today, fathers have to

Conference celebrates women in church

A weekend conference on the
changing role of women in the
church and in society will be
hosted by St. Paul’s United Church
March 9 and 10.

Six workshops will be offered,
including one for men on the
changing male and female rela-
tionships.

Other workshops cover the role

of women in the church, substance
abuse and women, resources avail-
able to women, women’s legal
rights and women’s spirituality,

The $5 registration fee includes
lunch. Day care will be available.

Since enrollment in each of the
workshops is limited, participants
are advised to register early.

In addition to the workshops,

“IMPROVING YOUR HEARING
IS OUR CONCERN”

MRS. EVELYN HAMBLEY
GOVERNMENT LICENSED
HEARING AID CONSULTANT
CONDUCTS HEARING EVALUATIONS
Every Monday from 1:30-5:00
And Tuesday from 9:00 - 5:00
All the latest noise reduction hearing aids and improved
technology in small canal hearing aids are available.
We service all makes and models of hearing aids and supply all
types of batteries at a discounted price by quantity.

All hearing aids are fitted with a 30 day, NO obligation trial!

225 - 1900 Richmond Avenue, Victoria

_ ISLAND
ACO USTICS
INC.
301 - 2453 Beacon Avenue, Sidney 656-5520
309 - 645 Fort Street, Victoria 385-3103

598-2334

events Saturday include a morning
and afternoon worship service, an
opening address and a plenary
session. Coffee and networking
will follow the afternoon worship
Service.

On Friday evening the church
will host a free evening of enter-
tainment, featuring Helen Pletsch,
Heather Lindstedt, Jackie Melvin,

Mary Williamson and Judith Boel.

Everyone is welcome to attend
the performance, which starts at
7:30 p.m. March 9 in the church,
Malaview Street and 5th Ave.,
Sidney.

For more information contact
Marolyn Stevens at 656-5500 or
Betty Yule at 656-6004.

up Johnson’s contention that men
can care for children.
Through the Father’s Support

Group, Johnson hopes men Ca

discuss parenting problems, raise
questions and get medical, legal
and educational information from
guest speakers.

Although the group meets in St.
Paul’s United Church, which
Johnson attends, he notes the
group is non-denominational.

Anyone interested is welcome to
contact Johnson at 656-5087 or St.

Paul’s at 656-3213, ee

Auxiliary gives
$50,000 plus to
local hospital

Fundraising over the past yeas

produced donations of $50,500 to —

the Saanich Peninsula Hospital by
the hospital auxiliary, members

learned at the Feb. 13 annual ©

general meeting,
Newly elected president Lucy

Ditlevson reported donations c#

$42,000 towards the purchase of
an anesthetic machine and $8,500
for an endoscopic washer-
Sterilizer.

Ditlevson also praised the work
of auxiliary volunteers in provid-
ing patient services and predicted
an equally successful year in 1990

Elected to the 1990-91 executive
were President Lucy Ditlevson,
first vice-president Joan Marsh,
second vice-president Beth Twam-
ley, treasurer Joan Nicholls and
secretary Barbara Woods.

Problems:

e Poor Soil Percolation

e High Water Table

e Limited Installation Area

Features and Benefits:

Bypass the System

of Solids from the Water

(BOD.), 12 mg/1.
bacteria + virus
e Proven Effective for 10 years

RAULYE- FLO

engineered pump systems ltd.
11885 Tannery Rd.

Surrey, BC.

V3V 3W9

(604)584-3776

e Unique, Reliable Internal Filtering System
e Virtually Impossible for Untreated Waste to

e Provides a Positive Method for the Separation NS

DEEP COVE AND SOUTHEAST QUADRANT

RESIDENTS WITH FAILED SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS MAY FIND A SIMPLE SOLUTION
TO THIS PROBLEM WITH OUR MULTI-FLO HOME SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEM.

VEU TE-FEE simply the Best!

Wastewater Treatment Systems

4” Inlet ———

Access Cover

Water Level

4” Outlet

e Based on NSF Testing, Multi-Flo Consistently
Achieves Effluent Quality of less than 10 mg/1

e As high as 99 + % Removal of Indicator |
 ¢ Four sizes—500, 750, 1000, 1500 G.P.D.

e Backed by a Reputable Service Organization

+—Internal Filters

Long Life
Construction

Aerator

THE SEAL OF
SANITATION QUALITY.
CLASS #1 SYSTEM