First Babiesknow Weekend of the Year, 2012
Written by Harriet
2012 got off to a good start with our first Foundation Course last weekend (Jan 28/29). We welcomed over 20 participants - including expectant couples, parents of toddlers and teenagers, young people looking ahead to pregnancy, grandparents, and two beautiful babies who really tuned in (and were probably the best teachers of the weekend!).
We kicked off with Yehudi Gordon's presentation. He gave an overview of the Babiesknow philosophy and what we cover during the weekend: babies' sensitivity and awareness, brain development, genetics and epigenetics, relationships, family and ancestral influences, emotions, and more. Kitty Hagenbach then helped the group gain insights into the way babies experience their feelings and come into relationship, even before birth, and the group explored how their own early experiences have shaped their outlook as parents today. After lunch, we considered the impact that our parents and grandparents, and the generations before them, have on us. And we looked more closely at the emotions that drive each and every human, helping us play, connect and bond - and what to do when difficulties with feelings get in the way of happiness and our connections with others.
On Sunday we got really practical, reflecting on the way emotional drives affect every-day life. Helen Biscoe-Taylor guided the group into the world of a baby and looked at how we can meet babies' needs to feel loved, held, heard, seen and nourished. The practical tips on breast feeding, sleeping and massage were a particularly big hit with those expecting babies, and parents of small babies. Later, Kitty's stunning role plays had the room in fits of laughter and moments of silent contemplation - and held a message for everyone.
By the end of the weekend, everyone had learnt a lot - with the most consistent feedback being a greater understanding of themselves, and (their) babies and children, and some really practical tools to take away.
As we say at the beginning of the weekend, what we share is not a rule book, it's not dogma. It's a bit like trying on clothes when you're out shopping - try the different elements for size and feel, and take what you like ... then you will be parenting from your heart, knowing that your choices are rooted in your instinct, and backed up by science.