As Christmas is approaching I can't help being drawn into the buy buy buy frenzy that seems to pick up energy as the big day approaches. I am also fighting it like crazy! I like the idea of St. Nicholas, the Saint who was a giver, who on the 5th comes and gives one present in a pair of shoes. I like the idea of one present on Christmas day, symbolising giving a present to a new baby, and I like the idea of the 6th of January when the 3 kings came to visit Christ each bringing a gift, for this to be another moment of giving. So why then do we give stockings full of presents to our children who lets face it don't really need any more 'stuff'?
Then, today I got triggered by a small boy wanting his dad to fill up his little 'car' with petrol, now these people are lovely lovely people, money isn't flowing in their life so why does this little boy (aged 5) have this, what I imagine to be expensive car? I know its fun bla, bla, bla BUT he doesn't need it. He next comes running out with a gun - if you have been reading my blog you can imagine my thoughts immediately one this one! 5 year olds DON'T need toy guns that make horrid very un-gun like noises. Their souls are still so innocent, so beautiful, and unless they are going to be a hunter why give it to them? THEN he says to my 2.5 year old do you want to come and see all my videos and games!!! I have to laugh at myself at this point. Again NOOOOOO look around you, look at the country we are surrounded by - we don't need these things. Just the same, girls don't need barbies with anorexic looking bodies, etc etc.
What shouts at me is what is all this un-needed 'stuff' doing to the sub-conscious part of our children's brains, psyche, and their souls?
We seem to have lost the art in how to be creative with our children. I have recently found some great 'how to' books for children in our local charity shop which has inspired me and my 2.5 year old to makes things which we then put on display and he LOVES looking at them, showing his father and grandparents so proudly what we have made. Surely isn't this more enriching for the soul, for building a relationship with our children, for inspiring the creative part of their brian for life?
From now on I am going to endeavor to teach my children about the giving Saint, St. Nicholas, celebrating the birth of baby Jesus and the gifts of the 3 kings, by buying small, hopefully supporting ethical producers and useful gifts that are needed rather than just wanted for 5 minutes and then forgotten about!
So getting back to the needs of our children, in my book what they really, really need not just at Christmas (but maybe this is a time for reflection on how we can give in other ways other than throwing cash at the problem) is love, attention, to be listened to, respected, felt heard, laughing and playing with their parents, sunggling and reading stories. Running outside, observing nature, splashing in puddles, eating nourishing food and feeling part of a loving family.
Mama Love,
Nixie
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
Thursday, 1 December 2011
Getting ready for a new baby...
I am writing this down partly for my own benefit so I remember and incase it might help others and/or prompt others to add their own suggestions!
Today I met a lovely man who asked if I would like a top tip on how to help no.1 adjust to no.2 arriving. Yes, of course, I am open to most things but did not guess in the slightest what he was going to tell me! Give no.1 the responsibility of the new babies feet and toes! It gives them a job to do, makes them feel good and gets them involved. Massage them, stroke them, are they the right temperature and so on. Brilliant!
Make with no.1 (or buy!) a cake so when the baby comes home we all celebrate the babies birthday. No. 1 gets to make the cake, eat the cake and blow the candle out.
Read Siblings without Rivalry - a brilliant brilliant book
Not only buy a present from the baby to no.1 but also get a present for no.1 to give to no. 2. I have just brought 2 little finger puppet mice and my 2.5 year old is so excited not only to play with his puppet but also to give one to the baby. In fact a baby came round for tea today and no.1 asked for the babies mouse and he ran and put it next to the sleeping baby that came to tea!
Read Brunus and the New Bear and Hello Baby to prepare no.1 for the arrival. Both lovely lovely books.
No.1 has come to all our appointments and gets to touch mama's tummy to feel the baby whenever he likes so he has some idea of what is happening. Whenever I hold another baby I gently say 'this is what we are going to have soon.' He always wants to hold the baby which he has been able to do and I say something along the lines of "the baby is so lucky to be held by you, you are so gentle, goodness this is a lucky baby."
I am gently making no.1 wait a little longer on some things so that he starts getting used to me not being able to do everything with him instantly.
Every evening I am massaging my tummy with the baby massage tummy oil so that when the baby arrives the oil I use on her/him will be known by them.
I chant 'head down, chin in, back to tummy, arms down' regularly! And visualise the baby being in the right position.
Have 2 baby pillows either side of me when I sleep so that when I turn in the night there is always something ready to support my tummy.
I would really recommend watching Ina May Gaskin's talks on Natural Childbirth on You Tube as she gives some great tips about how to make labour easier.
On top of all of this I practice yoga, meditation, chanting, drinking pregnancy related herbal teas, taking pregnancy related vitamins, minerals and fish oils, drinking green smoothies, going to bed early, walking my dogs for about an hour everyday and I feel really really great. Each pregnancy is different and most importantly you must listen to your own bodies needs and follow its wisdom.
Mama love,
Nixie xxx
Today I met a lovely man who asked if I would like a top tip on how to help no.1 adjust to no.2 arriving. Yes, of course, I am open to most things but did not guess in the slightest what he was going to tell me! Give no.1 the responsibility of the new babies feet and toes! It gives them a job to do, makes them feel good and gets them involved. Massage them, stroke them, are they the right temperature and so on. Brilliant!
Make with no.1 (or buy!) a cake so when the baby comes home we all celebrate the babies birthday. No. 1 gets to make the cake, eat the cake and blow the candle out.
Read Siblings without Rivalry - a brilliant brilliant book
Not only buy a present from the baby to no.1 but also get a present for no.1 to give to no. 2. I have just brought 2 little finger puppet mice and my 2.5 year old is so excited not only to play with his puppet but also to give one to the baby. In fact a baby came round for tea today and no.1 asked for the babies mouse and he ran and put it next to the sleeping baby that came to tea!
Read Brunus and the New Bear and Hello Baby to prepare no.1 for the arrival. Both lovely lovely books.
No.1 has come to all our appointments and gets to touch mama's tummy to feel the baby whenever he likes so he has some idea of what is happening. Whenever I hold another baby I gently say 'this is what we are going to have soon.' He always wants to hold the baby which he has been able to do and I say something along the lines of "the baby is so lucky to be held by you, you are so gentle, goodness this is a lucky baby."
I am gently making no.1 wait a little longer on some things so that he starts getting used to me not being able to do everything with him instantly.
Every evening I am massaging my tummy with the baby massage tummy oil so that when the baby arrives the oil I use on her/him will be known by them.
I chant 'head down, chin in, back to tummy, arms down' regularly! And visualise the baby being in the right position.
Have 2 baby pillows either side of me when I sleep so that when I turn in the night there is always something ready to support my tummy.
I would really recommend watching Ina May Gaskin's talks on Natural Childbirth on You Tube as she gives some great tips about how to make labour easier.
On top of all of this I practice yoga, meditation, chanting, drinking pregnancy related herbal teas, taking pregnancy related vitamins, minerals and fish oils, drinking green smoothies, going to bed early, walking my dogs for about an hour everyday and I feel really really great. Each pregnancy is different and most importantly you must listen to your own bodies needs and follow its wisdom.
Mama love,
Nixie xxx
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)