5 Things I Learnt from My Child
Meet Jessica, mother and member of our fantastic Parent Panel*; a diverse community of Bright Horizons parents sharing their experiences of raising happy, thriving and confident children. In this blog, Jessica shares five things she learnt from her little one.
*Incentivised content
To me, to say that becoming a becoming a mum is a steep learning curve, was an understatement. Perhaps not so much for some, but for me it felt like a complete lifestyle change and identity overhaul. Certainly, there have been some really challenging moments in there, but I’ve also learnt a great deal. I’ve learnt huge amounts about how to care for my baby, keep them safe, fed and happy - the necessary essentials - but they’ve taught me a few things too. More than I was expecting.
1. Slowing down
In my twenties, I worked hard and travelled a lot. However, I was often exhausted and burnt out. Having a little one who only napped in a moving buggy or contact napped meant I had to slow down and give in to sitting on the sofa for at least an hour a day. At first, I found this stressful, sometimes desperately wishing my baby would be put down for a nap so I could tackle the mountain of chores surrounding me, but in time, I leaned into it and started to enjoy these chilled, peaceful moments in my day. Even though our days of contact napping are over, I’ve carried this on by trying to build little moments of downtime into each day.
2. Being present
I love to live life three months ahead. Planning trips, holidays, days out - it’s what I enjoy. However, watching my toddler be amazed by the simple things (squirrels in the garden, bubbles, or a cement mixer driving past us as we walk to the supermarket) has really encouraged me to be more present, and look for enjoyment in our surroundings with him. We listen out for things and then try to spot them, for example, helicopter together. Being “in the moment” calms my mind, as well as building happy memories from the simplest of moments.
3. Benefits of fresh air
My toddler thrives when outside. But I’ve learnt that, so do I. In the past I’ve been guilty of spending a day at my desk, commuting, and doing chores at home - never really getting outside. But now, we go outside every day, whether it’s pottering around the garden, taking the scooter round the block, or going to a playground. And that daily dose of fresh air makes me feel calmer, relaxed and gives me a moment to take a pause in an otherwise hectic day.
4. Being positive
Having to be super positive about mundane tasks (like teeth brushing, or putting a coat on, or getting in the car) has made them more enjoyable for both of us. Just being it’s a regular task, doesn’t mean it needs to be boring, it can be fun. I’m constantly thinking of funny games to play and silly songs to sing, which means these tasks are often full of giggles and connection. I find myself doing these things even when I’m by myself, and it really is hard not to feel cheerful when humming a cheerful tune.
5. Creativity
As a teen, I was quite creative, and I did GCSEs in art & dance. But the older I got, the more pushed aside these hobbies got while I raced through life. Now, I’m constantly coming up with creative projects for my toddler and I, and I’m re-learning a love for artistic hobbies. Often, we’ll start a drawing together, and he’ll be long gone but I’m still sat completing it. Chalk is a particular hit in our house. We draw with it, and then my toddler gets the additional joy of making it “disappear” with the hose pipe. For me, this is not the time for long term, detailed art projects that I’m precious about, but more about expressing creativity in the moment.
Motherhood is not always an easy journey. The only thing you can be sure of is constant change as your child grows up - no two day are the same. But I have learnt so much from my toddler already in his two short years, and I look forward to all the things he’ll teach me in his future, and all the ways he’ll make me a better mum and human being.
