A Class Act

Whilst I was pregnant with E, people would ask me if I planned to go to baby groups with him. I would smile and nod, all the while inside my anxiety was raging and I was thinking HELL NO! Truth of the matter is, it was the best thing I ever did.

Once he had arrived I knew I wanted to try baby massage, and my friend with twins had recommended a sensory style class too. I desperately wanted to go to massage, but my anxiety took over and I put it off. That was until one day when a friend tagged me in a post about some new classes starting, and my mum promised to come with me. I messaged the lady running the group (who we now know and love as the lovely Jenny at All Aglow!) and she was so warm and understanding. She insisted I bring my mum for the class and, if I wanted, she could come every week! We booked on.

That first day came and I was nervous. What if there were loads of other mums? What if none of them spoke to me? What if they were all better at this parenting thing than me? What if E cried and needed changing or feeding or to sleep? What if he slept the entire time? My brain was on overdrive and I was so nervous. I really didn’t need to worry…!

My mum and I walked in to a lovely, calm room with beautiful dim lights and a faux fur rug for each baby to lay on. There were eight spots laid out - a perfect number. I sat down and some other mums came in with their little ones too, I smiled and said hi. One of them introduced herself and her baby, and so I followed suit. The mum next to me got very excited, asked me if I worked at a certain place and if my full name was what she thought it was. I laughed and nodded in the affirmative - we worked together and had never met, so had no idea who each other was! Enter Alice to my life!

Jenny started the class by gently welcoming us and making it very clear that it was baby led. Anything our babies wanted, we could do. We could feed them, change them, rock them to sleep - whatever they needed. My anxiety melted away. Everyone was also really welcoming to my mum, which was so lovely.

After that first session I felt confident enough to go on my own with E, and left my mum at home. Every class was so lovely, and the fact that Jenny gave us time at the end to chat and enjoy a hot drink and sweet treat was an added bonus.

I remember one week E wouldn’t settle, and I couldn’t go and join in an activity as he was needing sleep. I began to cry quietly in the corner to myself. She’s never mentioned it, but I know Alice saw me that day. She caught my eye and gave me the encouraging smile I needed - after all, she was sitting out feeding her little one too. I had found my people.

We did all three classes with Jenny. Baby Massage, Massage & Yoga, Developmental Play. We loved them all. (The less said about the other sensory class we went to, the better. I have touched on it in another post - but I felt very uncomfortable and didn’t return after the term ended).

After that very first session Jenny set up a WhatsApp group with all of us in, which over time has become a group of four of us. Alice, Georgina and Rachel. My “mum friends”, my girls, my group, my girl gang. I can go to these girls about anything. I can tell them anything and everything. From talking about our pelvic floors, to how much we think we could sell our babies for on Etsy when they are driving us up the wall!!

I obviously have other friends who have children (and those who don’t!) so please don’t think I’ve forgotten them. It was simply that these three girls all walked in to that room that day and made me realise I was normal, and everything I was feeling was human. We’d all had December babies and so they were all doing things at similar times. It was special and a bond that is very different to other friendships. It’s like you’re part of a secret club.

It’s no secret that I’ve struggled with PNA, but these girls have helped me through. I can message and say what kind of day I’m having, and each one of them knows what to say.

That’s not to say that I am not grateful to each and every person who has been by my side, be it physically or spiritually and held my hand through the last 19 months. My closest family and friends know who they are and know how grateful I am. The purpose of this post is to try to enforce the importance of going to classes. Sure, E loved the massage and fell asleep after every session - but I got so much more from them. I got confidence, a sense of calm, and three brand new best friends for life. Thank you Jenny. <3