Kiddipedia
So, you have just stumbled into your very first Mothers Group session with a less than ideal night of sleep, baby bags busting at the seams and packed with things you don’t even know how to use yet! And despite your overzealous preparation, that one essential item you will need during the session today hasn’t been packed…. but of course you won’t discover that until you have yourself all wound up into a pretzel of panic.
The journey from the car to the meeting room was by far your most uncoordinated and ungraceful performance yet and you haven’t even noticed the little mit and face cloth that has fallen out in the car park. Your hair is unwashed and your dressed in maternity clothes that no longer work for that ‘unique’ post-natal figure! Your precious little bundle is either asleep (when you expected them to be awake or visa versa), hungry when they were just fed, sporting a poopy diaper when you only just changed them, and has no doubt perked up onto the floor right at the time of your entry to test the theory that ‘first impressions last’.
Deflated and defeated, you find a seat as far from the front as possible and the only thing you feel sure about is how obvious the L plate displayed on your forehead is and that perhaps attending wasn’t such a great idea.
The session fires up and the warm and encouraging facilitator covers a range of topics that you are very interested in however despite all good intentions to tune in and learn, all that seems to be going through your very sleepy head is;
- These other Mum’s can’t be first-timers
- Why are the other bubs sleeping, playing, feeding (or pretty much doing anything your baby isn’t)?
- Did I over dress?
- Is my baby underdressed?
- Perhaps we didn’t make the right pram choice
- How come those babies are attaching so well?
- Will anyone notice if I take a little nap?
- Everyone else seems to have already clicked
- Am I the eldest? The youngest?
Precious and perfect New Mummies, rest assured every other Mummy in that space is having those exact same thoughts and experiences. It’s inevitable! You are ALL on L plates and getting bothered by very unhelpful and uncomfortable “head noise”. It’s just like starting a new job, a new exercise class or simply how we felt when we started school.
Mummies, I cannot encourage you enough to give yourself the opportunity to get from Mother’s Group what I and so many Mummies have and importantly still do!
What Mother’s Group can offer you and your family;
- New Adult friends that share many new and challenging commonalities. Your long terms friends may not be new parents which can put challenges on how and when you spend time with them.
- Regular get-togethers that offer an opportunity to leave the messy nest and chat, sip, snack, share, laugh, cry, play…and your baby is not only welcome but essential for your attendance!
- Group to share a water babies class with
- Group to exercise with
- Daddy days
- Mummy-movie nights
One essential way our magnificent Mother’s group has stayed connected is with the help of our what’s app chat group. We communicate almost daily though this means and can simply tune in or out as we please.
Some examples of how we use WhatsApp;
- Sharing photos and videos. E.g. Milestone photos
- Random Q & A’s. E.g. “has anyone tried peanut butter yet, how, when and what was the outcome”?
- Coordinating catch ups. “Anyone keen on a visit to the library and a cuppa to follow”?
- Celebrations/congratulations.
- Recipe’s
- SOS for those challenging times when you need to share
- Shopping tips
- Activity/play ideas
- Check in space E.g. “Is anyone using a comforter, which one and where did you buy it”?
- Comedy relief. The simple but priceless sharing of Mummy brain farts that typically start with “You know you’re a mum when……”
It’s not always easy to be the one to initiate an ongoing relationship with a Mummy group, particularly if you are not a ‘born leader’. However, challenge yourself to be the one to plant the seed of staying in touch with these special women and babies you have been introduced to and you will be sure to reap the rewards of all the priceless experiences to follow.
You may also like to read:
5 Things to Let Go of in Parenting that will Save Your Sanity
