South Devon Sling Library’s 1st Birthday!!

It never ceases to amaze me what can happen within a year!

My own personal sling obsession, quickly turned into lending my own slings to friends, which in turn then Teignbridge Sling Library was formed, which THEN due to being asked I had to change the name to South Devon Sling Library because of the areas in which I covered!

I am grateful that the awareness and the support from others is growing.

We are having a Sling Social gathering (details to be found on the South Devon Sling Library facebook page) to celebrate being a personal service to current and future parents!!

Opening a can of worms……

I had a really interesting conversation with my 11 year old niece last night.

She called me up to accept my daughters invite to her 2nd birthday celebration and we just got chatting about stuff – as you do. Apart from my own schooling and bits and pieces I hear through family I don’t really know what is what, as naive as that sounds! I was a little taken aback when my niece began to tell me that she has been busy revising in and out of school for her SAT exams. She is at primary school, 11 years old and she is already studying for exams……what has happened to our society to just let children be children and learn about their environment and friends at their own pace. These days our children are having to grow up way to quickly anyhow. I know that my generation didn’t do exams at 11years old but ‘we’ have seemed to be ‘educated’.

I hear that Steiner schools are going to be the way forward, but I don’t think that people are given enough information about them so they tend to get the reputation of being ‘hippy’  and ‘alternative’ schools. It’s a whole can to be opened in the subject of education for our children, and parents should be supported in their decision whether it is to home school, Steiner or State.   Time runs away far to quickly and before I know it I am going to have to make a decision what is going to be best for my little girl. Can’t I just press the pause button……..??!!

Do you or don’t you ‘post’ up for advice….?

Forums….either you do or you don’t….I prefer to be silent in them. I read when I choose to read what’s going on, but mainly to ‘keep up’ with the goings on in my circle of work.

I find it really interesting what people decide to put up (with this I refer to ‘mummy community’ sites) what they ask advice on or just simply what they feel they should share with everyone at that particular moment. Forums have their place, that’s for sure, and a great source of information and you can pretty much guarantee that someone will reply to you and offer their two pennies worth!

However, as with anything, there is always the flip side. It is so easy to post or text something which is taken the wrong way. Us mamas can be sensitive souls. Everyone has their opinion and I do believe that others offer advice out of their own kindness. But sometimes I do think that we just need to be LISTENED to, with no-one offering advice, or comments like ‘oh that happened to my best friends pal.. and she did xyz…’ but listened to with an open heart, empathy and respect from one mama to another (dads too!) We are clever beings, we can work it out, it may take a little while and some bumps and bruises along the way (anyone else had a biting/hitting/throwing/scratching toddler?!) but we will get there!

I think in todays society, parents don’t get half enough support that they deserve, and boy, parenting IS the hardest – yet fulfilling  job I’ve ever had.

Going to Forest School

How quickly our little ones grow. No longer a babe in arms but now an explorer! Fast approaching the years when preschool is maybe thought about, or even home schooling, which then ‘big’ school may be just slightly daunting to think about, the mind just boggles and where on earth to begin?

My little one turns 2 next month and there is one thing I know she loves being and that is outside. We came across a local forest school which is linked to a toddler group which we sometimes go to.  We went for our first visit this week, and I can honestly say, I don’t know who enjoyed it more, me or her?!

Going with a completely open mind as I hadn’t a clue what to expect, but from the word go, I wished that I was a child all over again! A camp fire was made, boundaries reminded, willow and mud huts worked on, so much exploring and lots of imaginative play happening. Tadpoles examined and clay models made, I really could go on but I think you get the idea!

Saying that fresh air is good for you is so right, I woke up that morning quite grouchy, but determined to get out the front door. After forest school I felt lighter, and far more happier and a connection to nature…..now if that is how I felt……how would my daughter have felt??

 

A book I am reading ‘Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids’

This is from a book I am currently reading. It is written by Dr Laura Markham, creator of Aha parenting.com. Her book is based on the latest research on brain development and clinical experience with parents

This part is about our child’s deeper needs which I thought that I would share with you;

• To know that their parents adore them, love to care for them, and care about their happiness (worthiness, security, self esteem)
• To feel truly seen, known, accepted and appreciated-even the ‘shameful’ parts like anger, jealousy, pettiness and greed (unconditional love)
• To stay connected with each parent through regular relaxed, playful, unstructured, affirming time together (intimacy, belonging)
• To work through challenging daily emotions (emotional wholeness, self acceptance)
• To master new skills (mastery, independence, confidence)
• To act from one’s own motivations to impact the world (self determination, power)
• To make a contribution (value, meaning)

Children can’t name these needs, but when they’re not met, they don’t thrive.

When a toddler needs some medicine…

It’s been an interesting few days (4 nights to be precise and still counting….!)

We have had a busy few days with the slings, meeting new mums and having our regular sling social. Then timing couldn’t have been any more perfect..the lurgey hits our household. Trouble is when it’s a sore throat you know that some form of medicine will help.

I have found an amazing manuka honey for kiddies which I am sure helps. The only way that my daughter will take it is with a syringe, which she plays with, so we try really hard for her not to have a bad association of syringe=medicine, we have even let her bring it to the dinner table and use it to eat her yoghurt!                           

I have a dear mummy friend who’s little girl is heading to AlderHay Childrens Hospital. Her daughter is a very similar age to mine.

So from this  mummy to others – When your little ones are poorly in any degree, there is one thing that I know and that is becoming a mum releases such a strength within us and when times are hard and the outside world is just a fog, it is this strength that we rely on to get us through the day. So to all you mamas out there, keep strong, you are doing a great job!

How strong can a mothers love be…..

It’s such a  roller-coaster, emotionally, mentally and physically becoming and being a mum. It is  pretty much non stop  from the moment you discover that you are pregnant.

It is a given that a mothers love is an amazing bond and is incredibly strong with her child and we say that we will do anything for them. I have had a series of events in the last few days that I have really felt this bond and feel so strong to protect not only myself but my little girl. It only takes for something to happen to get a reality check and put you back into focus.

I may be criticised for holding my little one, who will be 2 in a couple of months, in my arms while she falls asleep, but I get those really special moments of feeling close, gazing into each others eyes and having an unspoken conversation, I am making the most of those times, cos you know what, one day she won’t want me to cuddle her to sleep, as she will be a big girl! I’m making the most of it while I can.