Sooooooooooooooo,
I’ve been wanting to get pre-natal yoga certified for a long time. When I was first pregnant with Solshine I took a class and thought it was such a wonderful way to build community and help each other prepare (on many levels) for giving birth. I knew right away it was something I wanted to be a part of and I am always dreaming up ways to make classes meaningful, healing and empowering.
But then came my sweet nursling and with that lifestyle the inability to go away for 4-5 days at a time. I was signed up for a training when I was six months pregnant with Koala and Sol was two and a half. The training was cancelled due to low enrollment and it was once again put on the back shelf. Then came another nursling and we moved and have been busy building community and growing as a family. I’ve just sort of filed it away in the “it will happen when it’s supposed to happen.”
So here I am. Koala is about to turn two and there is a training at Kripalu in November and runs from Sunday through Friday. Stone is one hundred percent on board and I feel like it is a huge step in moving towards my career goals. I have eight weeks and have stepped up my yoga practice in preparation which feels really good.
Part of me is super excited, but part of me wonders if it is the right timing for Koala. He still nurses and when I am gone for the afternoon he really misses me. I can’t imagine being gone five nights in a row.
Part of me knows he will be fine. Yes, there will be tears, but there will also be Daddy and Big Bro to help him see everything is fine. Part of me wonders if I’m pushing it. Would it really hurt to wait another year? I know it would be a huge experience for both of us, and seeing that it would end with a joyful reunion, there is a possibility it would be positive overall.
I’m curious. I know many of you parent with similar ideals and nurse(d) your toddlers. Have you (would you) leave your two year old for this long? For this reason? At what age did you first leave them for any extended period? What happened? Positive outcomes? Lessons learned? How did you prepare?
I’d love to hear your about your experiences.
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i did my prenatal yoga training at kripalu six years ago this month. i had just received my (long awaited) positive test with lily…it was just magical!! the food…the yoga….being at kripalu.
as for leaving your babes…
i find setting intentions, dialoging with my children on a soul level (i like to do this while they are sleeping) and trusting the universe (and your amazing partner) are key!
as i read your post it feels like this is such a big important step for you…and also for your family. how wonderful that your dear hubby is so supportive of your growth!!
much love to you mama…
~erin
exhale. return to center.´s last blog ..in this moment
I am certainly not going to tell you what to do. I just wanted to say that I have never left my nursing kids, even for one night. Everything can wait, if maintaining the the trust between you is primary. Good luck deciding!
Thanks Erin. I didn’t know you did the Kripalu pre-natal training. We’ll have to talk. Ita about dealing with it on a soul level. I guess that’s where I’m at–exploring the feeling of going and seeing how that feels for both of us.
Miranda, I know. I have never even left Sol for a night yet. It is tempting when I hear about people having their kids at the grandparents for the weekend and everyone seems like it’s such a great experience, but for us it never worked like that.
Part of me feels like it can be done without breaking trust and part of me feels like it is pushing a line. Right now it feels like 5 nights is eternity and other times it feels like they would do great.
Another piece of the puzzle is that I would like to start teaching this winter to bring in a little income while Stone is off resting. He has been financially supporting us for a few years now and I would like to contribute and this is one step in that direction.
Sister Girl,
Your thoughts, photos, and brilliant, cozy musings feed my soul. This is my favorite thing to read and I look forward to it like a letter, with great anticipation. After I send emails to my faculty, school parents and the business is done, looking at this blog is my sweet reward and inspiration for keep on keepin’ on and living the best heart I can be. Love your sister girl in Cali
hil…
just a few more thoughts and then i need to ‘unplug’ and get ready for camp (woo-hoo!!)…
i have found that the money i make teaching yoga is often “break even” money. especially when you add up all i’ve spent on certifications and trainings.
so i personally have stopped doing trainings/certifications in hopes of making income (right now…not to say it is not possible but it is a lot to juggle with two little ones) and i am focusing on enrichment/learning activities that feed my soul and income-generating opportunities that integrate easily into our family life (right now for me that is writing ).
maybe there is something in-between…a day workshop…a retreat that is only one overnight…or closer to home….that would meet your needs for time and space and personal growth…without straining the nursing relationship that you have with koala…which seems to be working very well for all of you.
i left quinn overnight last year just before his second birthday. he was still nursing several times a day (and continued to do so until this spring when he weaned just before his third birthday) and it was a very positive experience for all of us. (i wrote about it on my old blog: http://eringoodman.blogspot.com/2008/04/sunday-april-27-2008-602-am.html)
much love to you my friend. i know you will find a path that is just perfect for all of you…
~e
exhale. return to center.´s last blog ..breathing space :: the wonder years
ps…
link doesn’t seem to want to work???
it’s in the archives under april 08 if you are interested. http://eringoodman.blogspot.com
i think i shared it with you last year when i wrote it though.
love to you my friend…
~e
exhale. return to center.´s last blog ..breathing space :: the wonder years
Thanks Erin.
I’m not so much thinking I would be making big $$$ teaching yoga, but more a step in a direction. I’m starting to offer birth photography and I think together hand in hand as well as building a tribe. I’m piecing together my book/birth preparation for the mindful mama and it all sort of flows together, kwim?
I really appreciate your thoughts and in fact I very much remember you going away for that night!
We’ve been thinking about it a lot and there is a possibility that the whole crew would come out and we could spend the nights together.
We’ll see. I’m just excited to have everything on the table and sorting through the possibilities and the feelings. I know we’ll make the best decision, and this is part of the journey. Thanks for processing this with me :-)
Hi Hillary
I’ll share my experience in case its useful :) I started my yoga training last year when J had just turned 2yrs. It consisted of sundays and a residential weekend, I thought this would be ok but when the time came around I knew we were not ready. I was lucky that the retreat was close enough that I could travel home at night, the others thought I was crazy especially as some had babies younger than mine!
I know how you feel on wishing to contribute financially, remember though how much abundance you bring into the lives of your children and family by being with them, its worth more than gold!
Love to you, I know its a hard decision to make x
Thanks Carrie, I really appreciate your perspective.
hmmm… whenever I have a decision like this, I find myself on a long walk, trying to “zoom out” and see a clear vision of the big picture. If this yoga training feels really important right now, listen to that voice– but if the five nights away feels too hard or will end up distracting (and thereby detracting) from the experience, there is something to be said for focusing on what you can already do (birth photography/book work, etc.) and trusting that there will be a space and time for this in the future. What about a compromise? Could the family travel with you for some nursing/cuddle time at night, even for two or three of those nights? At the end of the day, know that five nights– whatever you choose– is not going to take away from the lifetime of love and support you give your babes on a daily basis. I haven’t had the occasion to leave Elizabeth yet, and I didn’t leave Max until he was three, but with Noah, my first, I went away for two nights when he was about 20 months old. And at almost 11 now, I can tell you, that separation– while tough at the time– is not even a blip on our relationship screen. If it were me, I think I’d look into a way to include my family on part of the trip, so as to not have to go such a long stretch….if only for your own ability to relax and enjoy the experience.
Trust in your instincts, mama, because whatever they are telling you, I’m betting the right answer for you and the fam.
warmly,
kate
I enjoyed reading your sensitive and caring post about your family and how you are being mindful of your little one. I also enjoyed reading everyone’s thoughts on this. I feel like this time with our littles at this age goes by so very quickly and as much time and energy that can be poured forth to them is worth it for both them and us as mamas. I know you feel the same, either way you will already know it in your heart what the right timing is for your family. Blessings to you kind mama : )
Such a tough spot to be in. I can totally see where you are coming from and the huge dilemma it brings. I, too, would really like to start contributing so that I can relieve some of the stress from Justin but doing so in a way that keeps me available and engaged with Zeb is difficult, even at his age (10).
The first time I left Zeb was when he was three years old and it was for about a week. He was a pretty independent kid, excited to be spending a week with Gma but it was still tough on him and I wouldn’t do the same thing now with the perspective I now have.
I’ve personally always found that when things are “meant to be”, everything clicks without any stress, worry or fear. It falls into place and I know it’s right. When things don’t click, when there is a serious level of uncertainty on anyone’s part, it’s always been for good reason.
:hugs: to you as you find the right answer for both you and him.
~Tara
TheOrganicSister´s last blog ..Home from Good Vibrations Conference
oooh yeah, tricky! Personally I would wait a little longer until I felt wholeheartedly that this is the right time, esp. if still nursing. Would you feel like you could commit 100 percent to the course if you didn’t feel 100% about leaving? Or would it be the case at any time (like me), lol. The first time I left mine, and it was out of necessity actually when I had a miscarriage scare a few mnths ago for 3 or 4 day/nights the youngest was 2 and a bit. She coped just fine and I wasn’t sure she would.
Wish there was pre natal yoga here! As 3rd time round I’m actually a little fearful of the labour pain like never before!
Ruth´s last blog ..the wonder of our world