I’ve been taking Grace to Swimkidz. The babies are dunked underwater right from the start to build on their natural instinct for it. Some impulsively kick their legs and one little beauty is way ahead with a butterfly stroke, aka big arm waving. Grace on the other hand cries her little heart out. Eeek! But it has helped me learn how to comfort her really well. So on top of swimming, she is learning that although Mum won’t shield her from doing scary things, I will be there to help her be brave and learn new skills.
Becoming a Mum is like joining a special club. But it’s a special club full of every kind of person, so I’m not guaranteed to get on with them all. I’ve been feeling guilty about not attending more baby groups so far. Partly I am a little intimidated because I visited my local centre for an antenatal class and I was patronised out of going back by a pregnant Doctor in the group. She was so desperate to be right over being friendly or helpful. It was really rude and bullying. So I’m kinda not up for hanging out there.
I also haven’t really wanted to yet. Being freelance, there is every reason to make hay in prosperous times. I’ve got some lovely contracts ticking along just now, but I have no idea what will be around the corner. I am in year four of independent trading and I love my lifestyle, but my take home profit is non existent. I more achieve the lifestyle I want, through enjoying of the trappings of my profession. As her Auntie Kate says, there is no such thing as a work life balance. There is just life. I am making the best use of what I have. At the moment I work in baby’s nap times. Sometimes writing, sometimes designing and more frequently now sewing garments. I have opened an Etsy Shop. I will be adding my creations in coming weeks. I hope to use the extra cash to buy the things I need for baby Grace.
She likes the sewing days because she enjoys the physical aspect of my moving about the room waving colourful fabrics and counting out patterns. We’ve also discovered that dancing for her is a completely successful form of baby entertainment. Ghetto Funk is a firm favourite so far. But I haven’t worked out how to make a living out of that yet. Exercise video anyone?
I get on with the Mums at Swimkidz. Not least because they have been so supportive of my taking her in order to consciously avoid passing on my own fear of water. I’m actually grateful that Grace cried all the way through her first session. We can only get better from here and it proves that the guided sessions are a worthy investment for a nervous baby dolphin. But also because we have something in common, more than just children of the same age. A small, regular group means I get to have meaningful interactions with the other Mums. I feel like at this early stage in Grace’s life, I will find Mums who we’ll get on well with if I seek out activities that mean something to me. I wonder if anyone else originally just signed up because they want to have their own baby version of the Nevermind album cover?
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