The last few posts on this blog must make it look like I really struggle with my role as a Mum, I don't, I love it, though I have had a difficult week and it has left me reflecting on where we all turn for help in a modern society that is so fragmented and where face to face contact with people seems to be on the decline...
Once upon a time we would have lived near our Mums and they would have helped with anything we were stuck with, they might even have lived in our house but that is far from true now. I never would have seen myself living more than an hour from either of the sets of grandparents, and yet here am I, 400 miles from "home", and having to make new friends and not being near any of my old support structures.
I have been very lucky in that my church has been an amazing source of friends, most of whom are other mummies who can at least help with making sure I can ask people if "that" is normal or for advice on weaning or (when the time comes in the far off future) weaning or discipline or whatever.
I know, though, that not everyone is so fortunate as I am, that they are very isolated and don't have the help they need. I find myself wanting to end this blog with a "and this is what you need to do about it" but the truth is, I have no idea what the answer is. How do we even begin to get some help, even someone to watch the kids while we go to the doctor or get our hair cut? How do we get help with getting the shopping done when you have run out of milk but haven't managed to get clothes on despite it being 3 in the afternoon? And how do we fit in those naps when our babies barely nap themselves (see my post here on why that is such an issue for me!)? And how do we just meet enough people that we can get to the end of the day and spoken words out loud that are not about poo or being clever for using your baby gym!?!
Answers on a postcard, or rather in my comments!
I don't know hun, and I suppose part of the problem is that people need different things and different ways of communicating with others to help them through. I often feel as though people who read my blog must think I'm a deeply unhappy person who does nothing but moan but that isn't a true picture of me - it's just that blogging is where I turn to when I'm feeling down or having issues. For me blogging and tweeting is like my free therapy, it really helps to share in some form. I hope it helps you too x
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