Reach Foundation

Do you know that feeling when you wake up in the middle of the night and it’s cold and your diaper feels heavy. And there are so many strange sounds all around you, and it’s dark and scary. And you get a hit in your head and it’s your hand that’s on its own adventure.

And you can’t control it at all and it flings itself around and scratches your face and pulls at your hair. And your legs start kicking off the duvet, even though you’re cold as it is and you try to make it stop but they have their own will. And so you’re lying there completely helpless with flailing limbs that want to do everything, but none of the things you want.

And you can’t find mom. And you call for her and you find yourself feeling really scared. What if your beloved mom doesn’t come for you. You can’t imagine anything worse and you start to cry because you miss her so terribly. You have never felt as alone as this very moment.

And then she is suddenly there. Standing right by your bed and looking at you with worry and love. And she is the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen. And you grin up at her with happiness and relief. You don’t think you’ve ever felt as happy as this very moment.

And she picks you up and holds you close. And she smells like herself, and also a bit like you. Like milk and safety and love. And it’s the best smell in the whole entire world.

And she is warm and safe and soft and her hands caress you and she feeds you and hums your favourite tune. And you love her voice. You’ve known it far longer than you’ve really known her. It has lulled you to sleep and made you laugh and calmed you when you were distressed. It is the most beautiful voice in the whole entire world.

And you get to lie right up against her and you feel your entire body start to warm up again. And your still cold hand starts stroking her and moves up towards her neck and accidentally scratches her. Stupid uncontrollable hand. But mom doesn’t get angry. She takes your stupid hand in hers and it turns all warm again. And this is the best feeling in the world. Right here in mommy’s arms, with your hand in hers. Even the diaper doesn’t feel as horrible anymore.

And you feel your eyes getting heavy and you know that everything is okay now cause mommy is here. Your mom. Your wonderful, incredible mom who always looks after you. Night and day.

You look up at her one last time before you fall asleep. She looks tired and her eyes are closed, and yet she is still the most magnificent thing you know. How amazing that she wants to sit here with you in this moment. How amazing that she will always sit with you for a bit when you need her to.

You smile to yourself. How lucky you were that she became your mom. The most perfect mom anyone could have asked for.
You knew, even before you saw her, that she would be the best thing in the world.

Oh how you love her. Your mom.❤️

Words by: The Mommy Poet

Could not agree with this more from Karen Young - Hey Sigmund 💛

“All children come with their own magic. They all have their own strengths and will face their own challenges. They will do this in their own time, when they feel ready.

Of course, eventually we all have to be responsible for asking for what we need and going after that, but there’s no hurry to get there. The skills that will support this need to be built and nurtured to fullness. This can only happen in an environment that supports our children in feeling safe, noticed, free to experiment and free to fail, which will be where some of there greatest learnings will come from.

Some children will need more time than others. Not because they are not capable - they will be so capable - but because they will be sensitive to the risks, they will place high value on connection and rapport, they will be tuned in to the reactions of others, and because, above all else, they will care. They will care about doing what feels right for them, about feeling safe enough to be brave enough, about what important others think, and how the world sees them. They will care about being the best they can be, but sometimes they will need time to discover how to do that.

These are all skills and qualities that will hold them strong one day, and they will be the reasons they will be adored by the people who have a precious place beside them, well-liked and sought after by others, have important things to say, wonderful ways of seeing the world and kind, generous, compassionate ways of relating to its people.

For now it’s important to recognise, accept and celebrate who they are, but let’s not expect them to be different. Because when our children learn and grow in classrooms that support who they are and build their feelings of safety, they will slowly, and in their own time, reveal what they are capable of. And it will be stunning.”