Sunday 17 April 2011

Thanks to all our sponsors (or something like that!)

We have had so many generous donations that we really feel we ought to name check a few people!

Firstly, the lovely mums from The Green Parent Forum; Allie, BeckW and Snowleopard, who sent us the very first nappies for our Nappy Library - you will be pleased to know that some of them have already been borrowed! Thanks also to Jacqui, who sent us a huge box of books for our book library.

Nannie Cool very kindly gave us 1.5 slings for our Sling Library (one just for us and one shared with Solent AP Group) for just £15 - a saving of about £45! She has also donated some fleece wraps for our Nappy Library.

LittleLambs blew our minds and sent us no less than 14 nappies and 4 wraps for our Nappy Library - bamboo, organic cotton and microfibre shaped nappies in both sizes and two of their lovely new pocket nappies!

We have also received a Wonderoo V2 from Babykind and have been promised a donation from Nature Babies. We can't quite believe how generous these companies are being, but it is really making a difference to our libraries - thank you all so much!

Finally, thank you to Bournemouth Reform Synagogue for allowing us to use their premises for a nominal rent and Boscalicious for giving us a prime spot on their website to advertise the group.

Saturday 16 April 2011

First Meeting!

Well, the first meeting was (if we say so ourselves!) a success! :) Lots of parents, parents-to-be and a range of ages of children made for a hectic, but enjoyable time. We talked about the joys and challenges of Attachment Parenting - the things we really love, and which make our lives easier and more enjoyable, and the things which we feel are the right things for ourselves and our families, but which we struggle with a bit more in reality!

Some of the things we really love included waking up with laughing babies (co-sleeping), breastfeeding, baby-led weaning, being a "lazy" parent, and many of us turned out to be devoted sling wearers!

Some of the more challenging elements turned out to be feeling that others may be judging us (whether that was real or percieved), co-sleeping (again!) and coping with family pressures.

We also discussed what we would like to look at in future meetings - and here are some of the topics coming soon (in no particular order):

Co-sleeping
Socialising
Gentle discipline
Vacinations
Sharing "best practise"/toolkits
Food
Schooling
Travelling and being "Out and About"

All followed by a slap-up picnic by the water park in Boscombe Gardens, where at least one child was far more interested in getting wet than eating, and a quick trip to the beach!

Feel free to leave comments if you were at the meeting and remember stuff that I've forgotten, or if you weren't (or even if you were) there and would like to add a future topic.

Hope to see everyone again at the next meeting, which will be on Tuesday 10th May, 10am - 12pm