This month, I walked into The Goddess Store for our monthly NINO Babywearing Meeting and said what I always say, "Is it hot in here or is it just me?" I'm usually rushing to get there and carrying a huge tote filled with baby carriers and cool off after a few minutes. This month it (finally) wasn't just me! I was getting ready to go turn up the AC when Maya walked in, informed me that the air conditioning was out, and kindly offered to host our meeting across the street at her store, The Yarn Tree! She didn't have to ask me twice!
I have a special place in my heart for this store. First off all, from what I can piece together, my friend Jennifer, who, sadly, has moved away, used to go to a regular Stitch 'n Bitch there. And I think I must have discovered this store when it first opened. I love little mom and pop stores. There is nothing better than a unique, relaxing, beautiful store with lots of affordable things to catch your eye.
I am very impressed by Maya. She runs this store and has a 5 week old newborn. The store is so organized and welcoming. In the back, there are chairs in a circle and a beautiful free standing old fashioned mirror. There were kids toys in variouos corners and for some reason, the kids did not proceed to pull down all the yarn from the shelves. Instead, they (mostly) played with the toys! And when my 2 1/2 year old did get into some stuff, no one gave me disapproving looks! It was actually relaxing to be there with kids (well, sort of; I have not completely been able to get go of the idea that it is possible for a toddler to stop messing with stuff so I probably will not go out of my way to have her there again but I do want to visit occasionally with my older daughter). Maya doesn't run the store alone - she hired a mom who was there with her son who was about 5 or 6 years old. Again, I am so impressed. There are not a lot of options for moms who want to earn some money and keep the kids with them. In a more traditional society, of course the children would go wherever the parents go, but in our culture, that is frowned upon or not possible.
I do need to bitch just a bit now. While I was there, I picked up some absolutely gorgeous yarn for my 7 year old, who, coincidentally (if you believe in such things) was getting a nifty little knitting machine in the mail that very day! But in order to get my toddler to leave the shop at the end of the meeting, I gave the her yarn to hold. She's almost 3. What could go wrong? I didn't even give it the over-thinking I normally do. I sure should have. That yarn cost me the better part of the next day. In about 5 minutes, she managed to turn it into such a state that it was really a major task to get it back into a usable form. I guess when there are littles about, it's best to ballify your yarn in the first place. Now I know! Okay, bitch session over.
The meeting was nice, although I was a bit distracted just trying to make sure my two were not getting into any trouble. Normally, I leave them home with my husband who is lucky enough to be able to work from home on Mondays. My older daughter insited on coming this time and my husband can't work with just the little one home. Perhaps she knew there would be a cute boy there? She did have a grand time. But I always feel more relaxed running a meeting without the responsibility of children underfoot. Or possibly running out doors.
A pregnant mama with twins came. She's expecting them within 3 months and I have zero experience with wearing two so perhaps my coleader is suddenly going to become an expert overnight! We have sent her to thebabywearer.com and the articles and forums on wearing multiples but it will sure be interesting to see this in person. I believe she's planning to pop them into one sling at the beginning. Her two older children were only about 5 pounds each at birth so she is not expecting these babies to be any larger. The way I saw them kicking her in two different directions at the AP meeting, I wonder if they'll even make it to term.
Another mom came with her husband on a mission! She whipped through baby carriers. She was good at everything! She just popped them on, used them perfectly, tried the next. I love seeing a natural.
I hope to plan a topic early for next month so I will be a little more relaxed when meeting day rolls around. My goal is to have everything packed up well in advance and in the car over the weekend! We shall see!
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