Mum 2 Mum: Slowing Down
What is Mum 2 Mum? I have made many good friends online and often wish that I could sit down with them for a cuppa and chat like I do with my real life friends; other Mums with good advice, interesting stories to share, laughs to be had and experiences to learn from. Mum 2 Mum is a place where as online friends we can share a little of our own experiences, so why not pop in for a cuppa and join the conversation.
Amongst the intentions in my personal manifesto for this year was ‘Rhythm and Flow,’ which for me symbolises doing a much better job of finding our weekly rhythm and slowing down and doing less.
Which is already looking difficult to achieve. In a year when I really would like to find Immy some form of dance class (as dancing is something she loves to do) but when added to weekly swimming lessons and playgroup, fortnightly MOPS group and regular visits to friends (usually at least once a week), it already makes me tired just thinking about it.
I don’t want to rush Immy through childhood, especially as this is our last year home together before kindy starts in our state (albeit part time for the first year).
I want to stop hurrying and slow down. Less rushing around and more time at home to keep on top of home responsibilities. Less busyness and more boredom.
I want to reclaim time instead of rushing it away.
Any thoughts or tips?
It’s easy to get caught up in all the things you feel you should be doing. Doing nothing is important for our kiddos. They need time to create and explore (as do we). They also need us to have down time so they can climb up in our lap and cuddle or share worries they might be having.
I am struggling with the same questions when considering putting my oldest 3 in gymnastics classes. It all just gets to be a bit much when you add up all the things we are already doing… I can’t keep up as it is. So far, I’m just putting of the classes until we reach a time or stage when we can do so without adding too much stress.
Gosh, I so appreciated this post! I wish I had advice to give, but we are struggling with the same thing over here. I don’t know how things go over in your neck of the woods, but the big thing here in the States is a pre-preschool for kiddos 2-4. I was thinking about enrolling my oldest (3)…but UGH. I’m just not ready for school of any kind. We’ll have 18 years of it. And I notice he’s happiest when we have slow mornings at home, followed by a walk (or bike) to the park. Aaaannd…that’s pretty much it. Those are his favorite (and best-behaved) days!
Leave the structured dance classes for another year. Immy has a dance stage so just invest in a few DVD’s of Hi 5 and the Wiggles who have songs with singing and dance actions to them. Just let her watch and learn from home without the rushing to and from a class once or twice a week. You could make it a set time of a particular day (just like a dance class) at home and dress her up for her “at-home-class”. Speaking for experience, with Jamie commencing ballet lessons at 3, I think 4-5 years old is a more appropriate age for structured dance classes. They are old enough to be away from you for the class (most classes do not allow parents to be present in the room), and will be able to start to remember and be able to practice basic routines.
I can totally connect to this post. I am a working parent, and I really want to have our time together count for something. But I got to realize lately that what my daughter craves is not more educational activites or structured crafts, but unstructured play time where she can enjoy me as a playmate. This is a problem of a single child, but the problem that will go away on its own in a couple of years when I will crave this closeness and wish I spent more time playing and snuggling and less time carting her off to the activities and playdates. So we decided to lay off on afternoon activities leaving just one in – swimming. We also leave Saturdays free – for hanging out at home as a family, meeting friends or going places.