I wasn’t given this role for the temperament I’m gifted with. (Though I know I can summon up a little Calm Parenting a la Carol Nasr when I put my best foot forward.)

Motherhood is a volunteer job.

The proverbial gig takes one giant requirement: Yourself.

Please learn to nurture yourself.  Volunteering cannot rely on the faint of heart.

Rule number one is show up ready to give.  When, where and how long aren’t specified.  At first what to give may seem trivial.  There are cues for that.  Luckily you’ve been equipped to learn a few.

This mothering to young children stage isn’t all fun and games. There is plenty of fun and a great number of games.  However, I choose to show up daily, hourly, and, currently, every split second or thereabouts after with or without red light- green light.  Earning a badge on a Brownies’ vest and making a pledge would be so easy.

Rule number two is hang in there!  I’ll be the first to admit I’ve failed miserably on past occasions and hope to pad the grade at some point for the years ahead.  I’ve spent a fair share of blood, sweat, tears (and dollars) on the job (and God knows you need not have a biological child to contribute to this part).  This volunteer position takes heart and hugs.  A lot of hugs. Thankfully those are free.

In 7 years of Mother’s Days I’ve bragged on this hard work without shame.  Let them adorn you with flowers and cards, trinkets and gifts, hugs and kisses. I hope it fuels you.

The rewards are beyond your wildest imagination (generally speaking if you aren’t already a mother, it’s another mindset’s wildest imagination). Mind you, the pride of being called mother may be worn like an immunity necklace on Survivor. You should consider the same with the preschool craft jewelry you are gifted come Mother’s Day.  Trust me, it tends to get better in years.  You’ll love it all regardless of talent anyway.

Rule number three is find rest.  At the end of a day, love beams inside of me irregardless of the fuel tank reading.  Even if bedtime has been a disaster, the sweet tiny human beings at rest assure me my involvement has made an impact.    A truly divine unconditional love resonates from the least of all likely sources- a volunteer responsibility chosen to take on. It’s always a count your many blessings type of moment. You are blessed to be chosen for this title.

This is a position I’ll never outgrow and a badge that will not fall off.

Though I’m curious about the road ahead as many share the triumphs, the trials and the hormones, I take it day by day. “There will be a day when you are not needed near as much,” I’m told.

It’s nurturing, this mother title.  If you’ve got the gig, take a big deep breath and exhale.  Without ego I’m pretty impressed to reflect on my efforts. Chances are you’re doing just fine as well.

Remember to choose to show up and give tomorrow.  It’s what counts the very most.

Happy Mother’s Day.

This was written by a fellow Parenting Enthusiast at Nurtured and an organizer of the local HRM babywearing group.   Whitney’s shout out to Nurtured as a local Shop Hop spot was much appreciated of course too!

Enjoy!

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On day four of my on day four of my daughter’s existence, we planned a day trip to the Public Gardens….

I was sore, bruised and mentally drained, having spent ninety percent of the prior 80 some (or seemingly 8million) hours teaching myself and my daughter how to breastfeed, with some small, but excruciatingly sore success. Yet I knew the sun would do us all some good, so we wrapped that precious little bundle up in a cozy little wrap, and we waddled our way to freedom. Or I guess I should really call it the nearest bus stop.

Then and there, we were hooked. For all the self-doubting I had done, for all the paranoia and anxieties I had as a new mother, holding my baby close was something I was certain felt right. There was a sense of empowerment and pride in wearing her, as I was able to prove to myself, above all others that I was going to make this work. That I could slowly incorporate bits of normal life back into my routine, and that we could all cope with the adjustments.

She was cozy and content. I was ecstatic. Later in the day, my partner and I both found ourselves peed, pooped and spit upon, while taking turns wearing her through the Gardens, but the overall feeling of success of that day could never be touched.
For me, baby wearing is my expression of who I am. It is my art.

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You can read more from Whitney on babywearing and shopping local at Shop Hop.

Since 2007 the CuddlyWrap™ has been made with organic cotton.  Some parents wonder if purchasing organic cotton products is necessary.  The closer an item is in contact with your newborn child’s skin or their respiratory development the more important choosing organic cotton is, let alone better for the future of our environment. This Canadian-made company knows their facts!  It would take well over two pounds of chemicals to produce one regular cotton CuddlyWrap™.

If you’re giving a gift or checking off a baby list, consider asking the staff at Nurtured to demo how easy it is to learn basic wrap methods. You’ll soon see why we call a wrap a “fourth trimester must-have”. Your baby and your mental health will benefit too!

As spring 2013 rolls in we’ve brought the newest colours into stock!  Overall sage has taken the lead as the most popular colour!  Feel free to be a trendsetter by choosing the newest blue, plum, cranberry, slate, orange or the natural undyed CuddlyWrap™.

It’s that time of year!  A need for colour will be met with all of Easter’s bright hues and the spring equinox’s influence on budding trees.  Here in Atlantic Canada we’re still being threatened by flurries and rain wash outs, though not far away the backyard may chance a triumphant burst of crocuses, daffodils and a colourful egg hunt.

Nurtured lucked out on a timely delivery of Natural Egg Colouring Kits once again!  These go fast each year.

Join us this Sunday as we dip and marble a dozen eggs throughout the day.

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Post-Edit: Follow the instagram photos from NurturedMom!  *See below for the playdough too!

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You’ll agree $14.99 is easier, faster and fun! If your heart is set on sourcing veggies and other foods (some out of season) and chopping, steaming, pureeing, cooling and colour-testing, enjoy the experience!

Do note, however, that Glob Easter Egg Coloring Kit is 100% natural, made from food, gluten-free and vegan.  It also comes with a colour chart, compostable cups and mini bamboo brushes for the ultimate artist experience in egg dying.

Yes, we said vegan [no eggs are in the kit].  Perhaps you’ll find time to colour some homemade play dough to enjoy over the long weekend as well. 

Homemade PlayDough

1 cup flour

1/2 cup salt 

1 tsp. cream of tartar

1Tbsp. oil

1 cup water (from your egg kit)

Stir all above in a saucepan on medium heat until mixture pulls away from sides of pan and becomes  smooth. Cook for 2 additional minutes. Mixture should not be sticky and should adhere into a ball of dough.  Remove from saucepan and knead briefly.  Let cool before giving to children.  Keep in covered container for up to a month.  

My iPhone was thrown into a toilet (who put the “toy” in toi-let?) and is sitting in rice.  I’ve learned patience, breathing techniques and how to be resourceful past Google!

Perhaps I’m not celebrating all that the adventurous toddler is exploring, but I’m thankful he’s learning too even if it’s through experience.

Ancora Imparo.  I’m still learning.

There’s been a small lock of hair tucked into Sweet Potato’s baby book for a year now.

Each haircut [the fourth!] reminds me how much he’s changed and grown.  Outward appearances have etched away shadows of great change and growth.  Physical movement requires little concentration.  A cry accompanies a mastered pout; a shriek, a roar, a laugh have their own practiced look.

I traded in the locks to see his face transform into the toddler he’s become. The pictures remain like the folded onesies and sleepers of the baby stage he’s growing out of.

When he’s awake I see him thinking. His brow furrows as he tests how far blocks can be thrown and where a ball can roll.  It then lightens to wonder and amusement.

I may hold on to SweetPotato a bit longer as he falls asleep.  I can still catch him dream feeding with pursed lips or smiling as a simple reflex.   We dance in temperament now by exchanged glances and read cues more than ever.  His face shows he’s still very much in need of me for protection and comfort.  Though I haven’t had to sweep the hair away from a ticklish ear this week, I’m near to kiss the bumps and bruises colouring his forehead.  

So much life! So much light.  One haircut to the next, I’m nurtured in seeing the world transform my tiny baby boy.

Ancora Imparo. I’m still learning.

During said winter quarantine I encouraged my troop to hunker down and weather the feverish storm.  JuneBug found a clearing of lethargy just as Sweet Potato and I were settling in to a morning slumber.

There was a sudden awakening, “Mommy, I need you!”

“Mommy, I want to make a craft.  Wake up.”

I’m sure there was much jostling at this point.  I do recall a cozy nestling feeling radiating an immense warmth through my body which pulled my eyelids heavily shut. I wished I was the mom that sprung into action when her child asked her to craft even under the influence of a desperate cold/flu.  Apparently  I tend not to take crafting so seriously.  I leave that to ECMC and an amazing lot of entrepreneurs I am privy to source.  I had neither the energy nor focus to craft.

JuneBug was thrilled to be feeling inspired.  I could hear it in his voice.  “Mommy remember the paper snake I made that one time?  I need to make one again since I can’t find him.”

Feverish, dreaming, sleep talking…I considered if he was old enough for crafting via YouTube.

When SweetPotato woke minutes later I admit I handed him a box of tissues to empty one by one.

Eventually we made our way to the kitchen table.  We glued paper together, stuck toilet paper tubes with brads, folded airplanes and stamped celery stalks into paint.  I put aside the tissue box and SweetPotato played with stickers and large wooden beads.

A day spent at home called for me to kick it up a notch on the craft box.  A six year old’s brain is wired like a Pinterest board.

The Easter Egg colouring kit is already on order and the paper snake parts are in a stapled paper bag just waiting to be put together.  Nurtured is now fully stocked in art supplies mind you.  I’d suggest you thank the winter germs for inspiration, but I’m not planning on seeing them anytime soon.

We went out to shovel the snow a few days ago and JuneBug made tracks for me announcing they were “perfect” for my feet to follow.   There is so much bursting inside this little smile waiting to learn about the world.  The day he smiled for the camera he and I indulged in swinging at the playground even though the temperatures were far below frigid.  I had been busy all week, putting off after school playground visits to “tomorrow”.  His patience and persistence, the questions he asks, the stories he tells, even the boundaries he tests fill my day with learning about what it means to walk beside and parent him…and when he’ll let me, make the tracks in the snow for him to follow too.

I awoke early this morning to the sound of my neighbour shoveling the sidewalks.

I thought of Saturday’s mix of brisk air and sunny skies and was grateful it called my family outdoors to play in the garden before the storm. We watched as Junebug smashed blocks of ice from forgotten flower pots and then poked around the shed for more. I pointed out signs of life to the boys in the form of buds on dormant trees and bushes. I know they didn’t truly share my interest. Junebug and Sweet Potato were simply excited I took out the giant loppers to snip away a few branches.

What they don’t know is I’m hoping to work a little wintertime magic.

In the weeks to come I’ll put a vase of forced magnolias or forsythia branches in the shop. (Fingers crossed for beginner’s luck!)

The local groundhog predicts it will be six more weeks of winter. The snow shoveling continued outside lulling me to sleep like white noise. I thanked God for not only one magnolia tree but two, a fresh supply of Anointment’s shea butter, scrubby herbal clay cleanser and 2013 swimwear order forms.

Nurtured has had an amazing six years online and three years in our storefront and looks forward to 2013 with a grateful outlook for the natural parenting community.

We’re also one year past knocking down walls and opening up more floor space- what a difference it’s made!

Winter 2012 Nurtured was chosen as a Boutique of the Month for The Canadian Mother’s Resource!  Special thanks to our local following for suggesting us! It was such a treat!