THE BEGINNER'S CORNER!
Or how to reassure yourself by telling yourself there are people worse off than you...
As an expecting mother, I recently tried to imagine every situation with my child. From the simplest to the most complicated.
That's just how I am, I'm H-Y-P-E-R organised and I hate the unexpected… (Hating the unexpected when you're about to bring life into the world is quite paradoxical, I know!)
SHOPPING, A TRICKY SITUATION
After reading almost all the articles for expecting parents, browsing the internet for tips and listening to everyone around me (because yes, everyone has something to say. From my mother to the neighbour at the end of the street who had a child forty years ago), I think I am ready for most situations. But not everyone can be wonder woman… With: - 1 baby (or twins) - the changing bag - the handbag - two or three packs of Volvic under the trolley and shopping bags overflowing with the week's groceries, including a leaking tube of tomato sauce, and the latest must-have lipstick that you still managed to treat yourself to.
Ready for every situation... except, perhaps, doing the shopping!
Even with a pushchair, it gets complicated because you can't fit all your shopping in it…
Arms stretched, you carry the bags, push the trolley and baby is screaming. Not a glamorous situation! You hold on to the little self-esteem you have left by (trying) to stand up straight and hide your breathlessness!
Shivering in the chilled aisles, you tell yourself you should have taken a Parent's Hoodie rather than grabbing the first outfit you could find in the wardrobe.
Tempting... but not physio ;-)
BABYWEARING, HANDS FREE
To avoid this and get through this stage as smoothly as possible, I started thinking about ways to make the task more enjoyable.
Why didn't I think of this sooner?
My goal? Having my hands free while pushing my trolley or carrying my shopping bags.
Idea no.1: Putting Baby in the little cart seat. A method quickly forgotten… Impossible with a newborn!!
Idea no.2 : The baby wrap. Sceptical at first, many of my friends talked to me about babywearing. One of the articles that really made me take the plunge mentions the benefits of carrying your child, HERE.
Hands free to do the shopping? When I take a plane to avoid checking the pushchair into the hold? For walks?.. The idea of carrying baby directly against me allows me to picture things more easily. Why not?
Well... obviously, it's not a miracle cure that will do the shopping for me... But the connection with the child will be different. Less stressed, I can let them feel that everything is under control while allowing them to stay nice and warm, undisturbed.
This applies to you too, gentlemen!