LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The baby is crying, big sister has the flu and dad just left for work. With meals to cook and laundry piling up, now it's all up to mom.

Every mom gets stretched to her limits, but imagine having to manage the family household with the gloom of depression lingering over you. When mom suffers, the whole family suffers, sometimes with devastating results.

About one in five mothers will be afflicted with postpartum depression. The condition is completely normal, and there is hope. Symptoms can be helped, and, perhaps most importantly, mothers do not have to suffer alone.

Mother-Wise is an all-Lake County volunteer team committed to supporting moms in our community. We help where it's needed most, bringing open minds and helping hands right into the mother's home.

The group hopes you will consider joining the Mother-Wise team.

Their next training seminar will be on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 16140 Main St. in Lower Lake.

Please register by calling Jaclyn Ley at 707-349-1210 or Vicki at 707-263-6169.

Visit the Mother-Wise Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mother-Wise/156878824324503.