Today has been a day of waking up.
Eight months ago I moved Slingtastic, my online business, to The Next Stage. I opened a shop. It is something that I have wanted to do for years and it is a truly exciting thing to do. It took months of preparation, lots of support and enthusiasm from friends and family and a certain amount of blind faith/panic/single mindedness and determination. It has been truly wonderful being able to really help people find slings they love - I have customers come in every day with their slings seeking help and reassurance, looking for new slings that really meet their needs and finding them and it is great to be able to send them away happy, confident and sometimes with a new sling! I have also loved being able to link with other local professionals in a way that wasn't possible before I had a real physical shop that people could relate to.
It has, of course, turned my home life upside down too. I have gone from having a business that fitted around my family, to having a business that I am having to fit my family around. I am in total awe of families where both parents work full time with inflexible hours. I always have been in awe - but as with everything in life, I am only now beginning to really understand how hard it is. I get overwhelmed once I get home with all I need to do that I am just not doing - homework, housework, cuddling my girls, washing clothes and people (I just about stay clean!) and for the first time ever I have unopened post that sits around for a week.
Today was my day off, but I had an opportunity to meet a few local mothers who wanted some help with their slings and to carry out sling consultations whilst the shop was closed. I decided (guiltily) that my daughter would be happier at nursery than contained in a shop whilst I helped my customers and decided to give myself a break. I felt relieved dropping her off at nursery as she was happy. I felt happy going to the shop with the prospect of talking slings and helping parents as I had consciously dropped the guilt and I had purpose for the morning.
And then in the afternoon..... She fell asleep on the sofa. All that fun had tired her out at a time when she is learning to drop her sleep - she has fallen asleep like this a few times in the last few weeks and she really, really hates being woken up. Truly awful. Crying, writhing, hitting, complaining and out of control. And what could I do when we had to go to get her sisters?
I reached for my very first ring sling. A sling that many people don't rate. A sling that I have had for over 8 years. I picked her up, popped her in and walked to the bus. She slowly woke up, burying her head into me. The sun was bright, so I used the tail to shield her from the direct sunlight. She woke, and relaxed. She was comfortable and so was I, and as she woke up she started to play hide and seek under the tail of the sling. I cannot truly tell you how lovely it was to reconnect with a boisterous busy 3rd child in this waking cuddle.
This sling woke me up. It reminded me of why I love slings. It revitalised my enthusiasm to help people with their slings and sling choices. It reminded me that so, so much of what people encounter online about slings is disparaging and judgemental - or so passionate about one particular brand or doctrine that it puts people off. But here I was, with my fabulous Maya Wrap Ring Sling, enjoying all that it had to offer, even though it doesn't have the latest pattern, fabric or shoulder style.
I have always wanted to make slings accessible to all, to try and get past all the online judging. I use the word 'sling' to describe all different types of slings, carriers, mei tais, pouches and other variations around. Why do I believe in them? Because:
- Slings help parents and babies in their short and long journeys together both literally and metaphorically.
- Slings are not about a parenting approach - although they can be used as a tool to help and support many different philosophies and approaches.
Finding the right sling can be a revelation to some parents and carers. I have been so busy with readjusting everything around me since opening the shop that I had forgotten the joy for myself, with my own littlest. I can't carry her forever, so I need to enjoy those moments and enjoy the slings I have.
This blog is my awakening - my chance to come back to my original purpose - to help people find a sling they love. I hope that through links, articles and reviews I will be able to show people that slings really are for all parents and carers, and that you too can use a sling to create more opportunities for cuddles, fun and enjoying journeys together. And my sling today? - here it is in 2008, 2009 and today . Spot the tired children.
www.slingtastic.com
