At the end of October it was time: I was able to gather several mums and dads. Because, despite the thousands of tips that can be found on Google, in books and the most diverse parenting journals about pregnancy, birth preparation, infant nutrition, education and small emergencies, as a mother of two I had to acquire much of this information myself.
But it was not only my own journey as a mother that inspired me to start this exciting project, but also our patients, who had to give up much and suffer unnecessarily due to inadequate counselling.
In today’s sea of information, advice that is actually relevant to your personal needs as well as high-level advisors are difficult to find and a lot of expertise in the area of interest is required. Everyone can post something online and present themselves as an expert. That probably prevents most of us from actually performing extensive research; after all, who really has the time? Today’s world demands a lot from us – saving energy and reducing work is often easier said than done.
Learning through experience often has financial repercussions and can lead to disappointment. Often we do not question everything, because, for example, we pass on our personal education spontaneously. I am referring to food or the daily routine. How important is breastfeeding actually, ‘Hipp’ baby food or not? Do infants have to go to bed at 7 pm or should the children go to sleep at the same time as their parents? In southern Italy, the kids are still romping around the streets at midnight.
Having children is probably a big challenge for most parents.
They provide inner fulfilment, but they also bring new requirements on flexibility, a lot of uncertainty and fatigue and require multi-tasking skills.
Not only do our children show us parents deep love and understanding, but they also appeal to us to never stop learning, to work on ourselves and to humbly appreciate each and every day with our babies.
What then are the really important tips? Do ultimate tips for parents even exist? Which ones actually prove themselves and are also suitable for everyday use? To what extent can modern medicine be helpful? When is it damaging? What is the best sun protection for our little ones? Are there differences in diapers? Elective C-section or natural birth? Can you prevent premature birth? Which cream really helps against stretch marks? Etc.
To find the answers to all these questions and much more, I have invited friends, neighbours and acquaintances from the most diverse industries and different nationalities to our home. The tips ranged from practical assistive devices in everyday life and experience reports on pregnancy and childbirth to profound and honest advice on early childhood education.
I was deeply touched by this project, because I could observe the following:
We are all in the same boat and share very similar experiences. We are not born as perfect parents, but we are all allowed to learn, and our children are our best teachers. Our children are a reflection of ourselves and bring back the joy of being alive that so often gets lost the older we get.
At the beginning of 2018, this project will go into the second round to give us more first-hand information that will make life easier for parents.
The print is planned for the end of April! The Mum brochure is published in our practice where you are welcome to grab a copy for free!
Kindest regards,
Yours truly, Isabelle Farmini
