Mari Walker

As Education Editor, I wrote pages 22-25 of the October 2018 issue of Baton Rouge Parents Magazine . View the layout on the magazine's website (requires Adobe Flash). I also wrote Local Academic Resources and Services on pages 90 and 91.

Just before her 10th birthday, Presley Matt made a wish to help kids in need. Presley and her family, mom Meghan; dad Chris; and siblings Elikai, Tallulah, and Arrow, volunteered with local local nonprofit, It Takes a Village BR. Last winter, Meghan raised money for socks, underwear and blankets, which the family purchased together. Presley remembered that experience, and thus the Dolls Project was born. Read the rest on the Baton Rouge Parents Magazine website .

As Education Editor, I wrote pages 22-25 of the September 2018 issue of Baton Rouge Parents Magazine . View the layout on the magazine's website (requires Adobe Flash). This was my first issue writing for the magazine.

What started as an activity to help him gain confidence and keep himself safe turned 10-year-old Preston Edwards into a world champion. Preston recently won two world titles in traditional forms and weapons at the American Taekwondo Association World Championships. Read the rest on the Baton Rouge Parents Magazine website .

As a contractor I wrote and edited the Louisiana State University's Center for Computation & Technologies' Components magazine for 2015-2016. Download the PDF here .

You’ll probably receive a lot of congratulatory cards from your family and friends when your baby is born. But did you know you can get a welcome to the world card from the president and first lady for your baby? The card is a nice keepsake, and regardless of your politics how cool is it to have a note from the leader of the free world (or at least his office)? Read the rest on the Woman's Hospital "Life Among Women" blog . (Called Mommy-Go-Round when first published.)

The answer is easy – YES! I’ve had two pregnancies ending in two beautiful daughters. The birth experiences were vastly different though, for many reasons. With my first pregnancy, I read so many books and prepared myself as best I could to have a natural birth. I ended up choosing a C-section 24 hours after induced labor without much progress. My doctor recommended the surgery because of fears of the size of my baby, who was estimated to weigh more than ten and a half pounds. She was born weighing 9 lb 10 oz, and I was devastated by my choice. My support system was my husband, and while we both agreed what we wanted as far as birth went, we didn’t equip ourselves with the tools to make it happen in the face of medical suggestions. I knew I wanted things different for my second baby’s birth, specifically a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). While I wasn’t opposed to a C-section if necessary, I felt like my first surgery hadn’t actually been necessary in hindsight. W...