Honey: A Space for Moms + Moms-to-be in Ferndale

So often, Brooke Miller hears our area “is such an amazing place for kids.” This gave her pause. “I want metro Detroit to be a great place to be a mom – but that goes far beyond just enjoying motherhood,” says Miller, a Berkley mom of two girls ages 4 and 2 at the time of publication. “I want it to be a place where mothers are well.”

As a psychotherapist with a specialty in maternal and perinatal mental health, Miller saw the need – and filled it. Her wellness space Honey, which is based in Ferndale, is geared at moms of kids ages 0-4 and offers everything from yoga to support groups and respite. And, most importantly, connection.

“I think we forgot along the way how important it is for our children to have happy, healthy mothers.”

Sweet start

Honey started out in a small Royal Oak location in 2015, featuring mom-focused yoga, meditation, a breastfeeding circle and drop-in group. Its name has layers.

“‘Honey’ is a term of endearment. It’s how I want all moms who come into our space to feel. Like, ‘Hi, honey. I got you.’ It’s like a hug.” It’s like the food, too. “It’s sweet and sticky,” Miller says – just like motherhood.

In a year, it drew some 1,000 moms. “I think moms are just so over being judged, and I think they were almost in shock that there was a place that they could just be.”

Healthy space

Honey’s home in Ferndale is larger in size – 2,000 square feet – and offerings.

“It’s a pretty comprehensive wellness center,” she says, from “artisan mom-focused apothecary retail” to an intimate yoga room with prenatal, mom-and-baby and baby-wearing yoga – plus meditation and a music and movement class for tots 1-3. “Then we’ll have just some general yoga that’s focused on mom.”

Pair that with lactation and breast-feeding services, a wealth of moms groups divided up by kids’ ages and, importantly, respite. There’s a spa-like room with massage and body work and a lounge for moms to work, read, relax – or nap, thanks to child care at the “Busy Bees Playroom.”

Strong mission

With Brooke’s expertise, Honey also has counseling services for moms dealing with postpartum or prenatal depression and anxiety.

“It’s a huge issue,” Miller says. You’ll also find support groups for miscarriage and loss, birth trauma – even relationships. A “dad and me” group is coming soon, too.

“Our core is always going to be that first year and entering into motherhood, and really making sure people enter in with open arms.”

And that’s what Honey has in store: welcoming and acceptance.

“I want to stop it,” she says of the so-called mommy wars. “Motherhood is not a competitive sport.”