Author: Mumsgoneclimbing

The Problem with an Easy Baby

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Boston was a far cry from what anyone would call an “easy” baby. He always demanded quite a lot of attention and time, never happy to play by himself, he wouldn’t fall asleep on the boob instead needing to be swaddled and rocked, oh and then there was the whole born with a rare genetic syndrome that added a little more “hard” to the basket. Lets face it, there is no wonder our baby son really needed us. Ruby, however, is different.

IMG_4468_fotorRuby is this joyful little soul who will beam a smile out at anyone who cares to glance her way. She will fall asleep on the boob, in the car, in a carrier, on a plane…you get the point. If you have arms that hug you will probably be able to keep her happy. Sometimes she is so peaceful I actually forget that she is there (worse mother award to Nell).

But here is the problem with an “easy” baby. Sometimes we forget that the world is still a huge, frightening and completely bizarre place. We forget to pay attention to the misshapen schedules, to the new places, to the different arms they are passed between. We don’t realise it has been a day with too few sleeps and too many distracted feeds. And those wonder weeks people swear by, well gosh we just don’t even think to look.

Our “easy” baby swallows it all in and has little time to express they are feeling  overwhelmed. But the fact is that the unease within them does need to be released. Maybe it won’t come out straight away, maybe it will but in subtle signs only those closest could detect.

Now, when every few weeks I am awoken by Ruby through the night, on the hour (every crazy hour), for nothing more then a quick feed and cuddle, I remind myself that she too has emotions that need extra connection. Because of my little ray of Ruby sunshine I have learnt that it is so important to honour our “easy” babies and allow them to have the unsettled times they so deserve.

Does the universe try to encourage us?

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This will be a short and philosophical post, do you think the universe tries to encourage us? Now what the bugs butt do I mean when I say that, well…We all have ideas (huge assumption on my part), sometimes we have an idea and deep down in the pit of our tummy or the center of our heart something goes “YES! yes yes yes yes, I like that thought so do it again!” It feels as if whatever just sprung to our attention is really important and needs more time, more investment.

IMG_4152Then in the following days or weeks information and other ideas that compliment our initial light bulb moment begin to appear. Everything that comes at us seems to be cementing belief and encouraging us forward, whispering “turn that idea into an action”. ACTION YES! That would be the next logical step when an idea has got you all warm and fuzzy and overexcited.

This is what I mean when I say ‘does the universe try to encourage us?’

Only the thing is, many great idea’s never really get put into action. Or maybe they get put into just a little half hearted, to scared to fail, sort of action. Now I am definitely speaking for myself when I say this, but feel free to identify with me. Of late I have been having one of these inspiring universal shoves. Though, I am not completely ruling out the possibility it is my subconscious doing some pretty clever happy connections. Either way I am feeling excited and this time I want to take ACTION. Hopefully I can share my journey soon and inspire you to embrace some warm and fuzzy and overexcited idea’s.

Parenting following instinct

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One of the things I love about parenting our second child is how naturally I can follow instincts. With our first I lacked confidence and questioned everything, predominately I was swayed by opinions and values that had shaped my view of parenting. At times I felt like I was swimming against the current, fighting the natural wants of my baby because some preconceived idea didn’t think it was right. It was like I had to enforce every little thing that happened, I had to be in control, because surely a little baby couldn’t be the master of their own life.

What I have learnt on my parenting journey is that babies and young children are very very clever. Not in the academic intellectual way or the cunning charismatic way that may be deemed superior in our adult world. No…our children are masters of instinct, they are geared for survival, and all they do is expressed from their truthful pure self.

IMG_4076_fotorSo second time around I don’t look at the clock as much, I don’t count feeds or stress over naps, there is no schedule which is not Miss Ruby Jean’s schedule. If you ask me how often she feeds I seriously can not say, some days it may be a couple of times in every hour, other days it is one time every couple of hours. My baby wants someone to hold her MOST of the time and you know what?…that is completely natural. Yes I take my baby to bed with me, we sleep side by side like two peas in a pod, she loves having me near and I love not having to get out of bed to breastfeed. I also understand that she is ever changing and evolving as all little people do, I understand that what works for her today may not work tomorrow, I understand that the only thing that will work is honouring her instincts and adapting with that journey.

Now I realise that she can be the master of her life and in fact she is also my master for this time, that probably sounds scary as hell to some and maybe just a bit ridiculous to others, but guess what? WHAT!? I am less stressed, I have more energy and…following Ruby’s instincts is a WHOLE lot more rewarding then forcing my preconceived ideas.