Like most good things, mothering involves hard work and sacrifice.
I think we have all had those days when we are spent and would give anything to simply sit still and be…perhaps with a hot cup of tea to slowly sip.
But we push on.
Running on nothing but love…and perhaps coffee…we put our needs aside and attend to those of our babies.
But like most good things, the rewards that come along with mothering are significant…the unconditional love of your babies is beyond special.
And even those seemingly endless days do end.
At some point, your babies sleep. And when you see them, curled up in your arms or snug in their bed, warm and safe and loved, you forgive your mothering transgressions, forget your doubts, and you know that all the hard work and sacrifice is worth it.
At least that is my version of mothering.
I tend towards attachment parenting and I know that style isn’t for everyone.
It can be all encompassing.
And exhausting.
And I will probably never achieve that ideal balance that people talk about as I generally believe that part of parenting is putting your children first.
But I wouldn’t change it.
I suppose because of my convictions I prefer products that enable me to be a better parent…not replace me as a parent.
I find that so many parenting products take you away from the act of parenting.
Swings that entertain your baby and then with a flick of a switch, soothe them.
Straps that attach to a car seat or a pram and dangle a bottle in front of your baby’s mouth.
Even baby monitors.
Of course I have days when my big one is whining, my little one is fussing, the house is a mess, my husband has to work late, and I would love to put them both in some sort of soothing swing, have them feed themselves, and watch all this from a distance while sipping that elusive cup of hot tea.
But for me, that is not how it works.
My babies are attached to me…with secure bonds that I have worked hard to form.
I didn’t intend for this post to be a rant or even a commentary on parenting styles.
I simply wanted to point out how appreciated it is when you find products and a community that support the way you parent.
For the past few months, I have been working with Close Parent and Nest Nappies to review some of their products.
I have found kindred spirits in both Close and Nest and in the items they produce and sell.
While I believe most products marketed to parents are extraneous, there are some exceptions.
The Close Products are generally multi-purpose and are made to last…their use will evolve through the ages and stages of my babies and then they may be passed on to other babies.
For example the Pop In Play Mat is amazing. It has a million uses other than a play mat. In fact I think play mat is a bit of a misnomer…it is really a mat with a waterproof side that you can use for any purpose you like. I recently used it as a mattress protector when Lyddie was sick and her two other mattress protectors were in the laundry pile. When Lyddie is asleep, Charlie knows he can play with his Lego on the mat…when she wakes up the Lego is easily collected and Charlie knows the mat is her space once again. Lately we have been spending a lot of time outside searching for insects and the play mat is easy to roll up and take with us…we put the mat under a tree and all look up at the leaves, trying to spot caterpillars.
I think when products are kept simple, you are able to adapt them to suit your style of parenting…they supplement parenting rather than suppressing natural parental instincts.
Nest Nappies is half retail and half community.
You can visit and talk with the knowledgeable staff about any and every mothering issue…there is a lovely courtyard where your children can play while you chat.
There is never any judgement, just parenting wisdom.
Whenever I visit I always feel better…either with the parenting choices I have made or because I have received some solid, common sense advice about a parenting problem.
Do you think you have a parenting style?
Have you found a brand or a shop that you love?
Nest Nappies is generously giving away a $130.00 voucher to spend on any Close Parent product from Nest Nappies.
They are also offering readers a ten percent discount off any Close Parent product. The discount code is CPDOWNUNDER. If ordering online the discount will be taken off at the checkout. The code is also valid in store.
To win the gift voucher to spend on a Close Parent product at Nest Nappies, just leave a comment on this post answering the question what you would buy and why.
If you are interested in the posts I wrote about Close Parent and Nest Nappies, you can read them here.
Baby Wearing
Picnicking With Close Parent
On Using Both Cloth And Disposable Nappies
And now for the fine print!
The terms and conditions for the Nest Nappies giveaway hosted by Mother Down Under are as follows.
This competition is open now and runs until May 31 at 6:00 pm.
This is a game of skill and the winner will be picked by Mother Down Under based on their answer to the question posed.
Entrants must be contactable via email.
The winner will be notified via email and announced on this blog post.
The prize cannot be exchanged for cash.
The prize in only valid at Nest Nappies.
Please note that Mother Down Under does not handle any post giveaway negotiations.
I received a range of Close Products to trial.
Good luck!