The Christmas season has changed for me since I was a child. Back then, all I could think about was what present would be under the tree on Christmas morning. And did mom make my favorite cookies. I have pretty fond memories of those days, but there are things I like about growing older, too. For one, I'm not doing it alone. The friends and family that I started out with are traveling along side me, usually carrying the same baggage. Maybe there are financial pressures, health concerns, or more serious issues, like living with teenagers while going through menopause, (God bless them and keep them.) Some may be empty nesters running through their homes with literally naked abandon, screaming the song 'Freedom.' Others have their noses wistfully pressed to the window,eagerly awaiting their turn. Either way, we're all going in the same direction.
It's a good thing, this mutual parting of the ways between parent and child. Children figure out how to do things on their own, nag free. They make their own decisions, right or wrong, and live with them, happy that the choice is theirs alone.
Christmas time brings all the generations back together again. Sure, there are petty squabbles, and it can get a little complicated finding room for everyone. But that's the real gift of Christmas. Being together again, and seeing all the changes in the children and in each other. Hugging parents who seem a little more frail each year. Standing arm in arm with loving siblings who have learned to say "wow!" when they see your new hair do, instead of 'What were you thinking?" Families are the best gift you'll ever get.
I remember watching Alec Baldwin during a Christmas episode of 30 Rock. He was bitter about his mother's ongoing relationship with an older, wealthy gentleman. As the episode continued, he realized that it had been the only way she had to get money to buy presents for Christmas. When Tina Fey's character asked him if they got any gifts, he choked up. "You couldn't see the floor," he said.
If our hearts are open, we can still see the gifts that we've received over a lifetime. When we try to count them one by one, we discover that there are many.
Our memories, whether happy or sad, are a gift. They are our Geographical Positioning System, pointing us to where we want to go in life. They remind us of all we seek to keep, and what we need to leave behind. Sift through them all, and count them. Hold onto the people you love, and be open to new loves and new experiences. Life has a lot of good things waiting for you in 2011. Next year at this time, if you count your blessings, I bet you'll find that they cover the floor.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah. I pray for God's blessing and peace on all the families all over the world.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
I have a confession to make. I had a thousand ideas for this blog during the month of November, but due to taking part in the 'write a book in the month of November' craze (www.nanowrimo.org) I didn't get anything down on paper. Or screen, I should say. Trying to get fifty thousand words down in thirty days is a challenge for anyone. It was even crazier for my oldest daughter Hilary, mother to six months old Claire.
I was in the city of Calgary for two weeks during November, and many days we wrote together while Claire was napping, or playing on the floor. In some ways it was easier for Hilary than for me, because time with my granddaughter is precious. I'd find my eyes straying from the screen to watch Claire putting everything she had into reaching a toy. She put more effort into five minutes of tummytime than I put during the whole nanowrimo experience.
Babies amaze me. It might look as if they're just goofing around. What's really happening, of course, is a whole lot of learning. Every part of their bodies, including their mouths, is used to explore their world. When Hilary wears Claire in the babyTrekker, she positions her according to her mood, and the time of day. If we were out shopping and she'd just napped in her carseat, then Hilary faces her outward. Though she has no context for what she sees, she looks around with a huge grin, engaged by other people's faces. After a while, when she's tired, Hilary turns her inward, and she gazes lovingly at her mother, patting her face with her little hand and making her little ba ba ba ba ba sounds. At home, Hilary wears her in the backpack position. She faces out if she's lively and chatting, and she faces in if she's tired, but doesn't want to nurse to sleep. I'm amazed by how much Hilary can do while wearing her daughter.
I wore Claire on my back one morning, hoping to give her mother a little extra rest. I was amazed at the language employed by a six month old. I swear she was even trying to sing along with the Christmas carols I had playing as I worked in the kitchen.
Something that took me a long time to figure out was the fact that, as much as we teach our babies, if we're listening, they will teach us so much about being better parents. They use sounds and facial expressions to convey their level of comfort. They let you know when they're tired of laying on the floor, or bouncing in the exersaucer. If you're not picking up the signals they're giving, eventually they cry. You figure out that they're not happy and need a change. Mostly they just want you, the mother, and in time, their dad too.
Crying is a last resort for most babies. I think of it as an early form of cursing, and I tried hard as a parent not to allow it to happen any more than I could help. The babyTrekker helps in many ways. When you spend lots of time with your baby, you become more alert to their cues. Most busy parents don't have all day to sit and gaze lovingly, so a good carrier becomes your best parenting tool. High chairs, bouncy seats and other diversions are great when you have to eat a meal (or write a book!) But wearing baby is a great way to stay tuned in. The added benefit is the clean house, or dinner on the table.
To all my Nanowrimo friends around the world, Congratulations on your big effort and hard work. To my customers, I wish you a cozy winter and Happy Trekking, as you parent your babies.
I was in the city of Calgary for two weeks during November, and many days we wrote together while Claire was napping, or playing on the floor. In some ways it was easier for Hilary than for me, because time with my granddaughter is precious. I'd find my eyes straying from the screen to watch Claire putting everything she had into reaching a toy. She put more effort into five minutes of tummytime than I put during the whole nanowrimo experience.
Babies amaze me. It might look as if they're just goofing around. What's really happening, of course, is a whole lot of learning. Every part of their bodies, including their mouths, is used to explore their world. When Hilary wears Claire in the babyTrekker, she positions her according to her mood, and the time of day. If we were out shopping and she'd just napped in her carseat, then Hilary faces her outward. Though she has no context for what she sees, she looks around with a huge grin, engaged by other people's faces. After a while, when she's tired, Hilary turns her inward, and she gazes lovingly at her mother, patting her face with her little hand and making her little ba ba ba ba ba sounds. At home, Hilary wears her in the backpack position. She faces out if she's lively and chatting, and she faces in if she's tired, but doesn't want to nurse to sleep. I'm amazed by how much Hilary can do while wearing her daughter.
I wore Claire on my back one morning, hoping to give her mother a little extra rest. I was amazed at the language employed by a six month old. I swear she was even trying to sing along with the Christmas carols I had playing as I worked in the kitchen.
Something that took me a long time to figure out was the fact that, as much as we teach our babies, if we're listening, they will teach us so much about being better parents. They use sounds and facial expressions to convey their level of comfort. They let you know when they're tired of laying on the floor, or bouncing in the exersaucer. If you're not picking up the signals they're giving, eventually they cry. You figure out that they're not happy and need a change. Mostly they just want you, the mother, and in time, their dad too.
Crying is a last resort for most babies. I think of it as an early form of cursing, and I tried hard as a parent not to allow it to happen any more than I could help. The babyTrekker helps in many ways. When you spend lots of time with your baby, you become more alert to their cues. Most busy parents don't have all day to sit and gaze lovingly, so a good carrier becomes your best parenting tool. High chairs, bouncy seats and other diversions are great when you have to eat a meal (or write a book!) But wearing baby is a great way to stay tuned in. The added benefit is the clean house, or dinner on the table.
To all my Nanowrimo friends around the world, Congratulations on your big effort and hard work. To my customers, I wish you a cozy winter and Happy Trekking, as you parent your babies.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Happy 24th Birthday, babyTrekker!
October 13th is the birthday of our second daughter Michelle, who was born at home on a sunny Thanksgiving morning, twenty-four years ago. I also consider October to be the birth month for the idea of the babyTrekker, though I didn't actually begin the design work for a couple more months. But like the baby that had grown inside me from a tiny egg, so it was with the Trekker. Coping with my fussy little baby and parenting my three year old daughter, Hilary, I remember praying desperately for SOMETHING. Some thing that would help me take good care of this little one who, with every cry, told me of her need for constant closeness. I remember wondering why the Creator hadn't given women more arms.
The first carrier I attempted looked much like a traditional mei tei. It had a rectangle body, with small indentations for legs. I'd heavily padded it and made wide shoulder straps and waist band, so that it was comfortable. But by the time Michelle was four months old, she was showing a definite preference for facing outward. I added safety straps that could narrow the area between her legs, just slightly, so she could sit comfortably, supported by the seat and the foam padding around the leg area.
I added a pocket, but it was initially a short one. My husband suggested making it longer, so that it could hold the Trekker when not in use. He also thought up the chest strap for securing the backpack position, though it was my sister Joni who first figured out that position and then taught it to me. Wearing the babyTrekker backpack style was a life saver with my next daughter, when I was busier than ever with three children and a thriving home business.
I don't think I've ever had better life lessons than when I was parenting my children. They taught me that there was always a way through hard times. That I was a problem solver, and a fairly creative thinker. Michelle introduced me to the virtue of patience, with which I hadn't had much previous experience.
Children sculpt us from the inside out. They're never really finished with us, (or so my mother says,) but the chipping away can leave us both stronger and more invaluable to all the people we love. If we're paying attention as the years go by, we might find that the only thing we've lost through the process is a narrow point of view. Each child invites us to look through their eyes at ourselves and the whole wide world around us. Thank you, my daughters,for that gift of clarity.
And Happy Birthday to my wonderful, twenty-four year old baby girl, AND the babyTrekker that you inspired.
The first carrier I attempted looked much like a traditional mei tei. It had a rectangle body, with small indentations for legs. I'd heavily padded it and made wide shoulder straps and waist band, so that it was comfortable. But by the time Michelle was four months old, she was showing a definite preference for facing outward. I added safety straps that could narrow the area between her legs, just slightly, so she could sit comfortably, supported by the seat and the foam padding around the leg area.
I added a pocket, but it was initially a short one. My husband suggested making it longer, so that it could hold the Trekker when not in use. He also thought up the chest strap for securing the backpack position, though it was my sister Joni who first figured out that position and then taught it to me. Wearing the babyTrekker backpack style was a life saver with my next daughter, when I was busier than ever with three children and a thriving home business.
I don't think I've ever had better life lessons than when I was parenting my children. They taught me that there was always a way through hard times. That I was a problem solver, and a fairly creative thinker. Michelle introduced me to the virtue of patience, with which I hadn't had much previous experience.
Children sculpt us from the inside out. They're never really finished with us, (or so my mother says,) but the chipping away can leave us both stronger and more invaluable to all the people we love. If we're paying attention as the years go by, we might find that the only thing we've lost through the process is a narrow point of view. Each child invites us to look through their eyes at ourselves and the whole wide world around us. Thank you, my daughters,for that gift of clarity.
And Happy Birthday to my wonderful, twenty-four year old baby girl, AND the babyTrekker that you inspired.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Death and Pestilence Lov'n the Trekker
In the last twenty-one years of business, I've received some pretty amazing feedback from customers regarding their use of the babyTrekker. One from the early years that stuck in my memory was a voice message left on my outdated, fuzzy sounding answering machine. My initial reaction was one of alarm, because all I could hear at first was a woman sobbing. Hard. I remember feeling a little faint as my mind filled with all kinds of dark scenarios. Having a fairly decent imagination, I had no trouble conjuring a picture of an erroneously fastened carrier worn at the top of the Eiffel tower. But no, as the message unwound, she began speaking, and my heart started beating again. Amidst her sobs, she began thanking me for "saving our marriage and our sanity." It turned out that she'd had a high need baby who could not be calmed. She and her husband would walk the floor with him late into the night, every night.
The arrival of the Trekker had a fairly dramatic affect on their little one. He became enchanted by the scenery in his neighborhood, and would fall asleep after a leisurely stroll around the block. Every night! This mysterious and grateful client did not leave her name, or her address. But I remember her last words. She was still crying as she said them. "I hope you get very, very rich," she wept, ending with a hiccuped thanks. I have always appreciated this sentiment. Though there was no genie obeying that particular wish, it's true that I'm rich with love. Which is the most lasting currency there is, especially in these hard times.
I remember a grateful letter from a dairy farmer whose little one made the milking rounds on her mother's back. She told me how empowered the carrier made her feel, as a mother, and as a farmer. This was also before email,and I cherished that hand written letter, for the time it took out of such a busy woman's day.
We've received letters from carpenters, lawyers, doctors, chiropractors, actors, dancers, and many more. The babyTrekker has been worn by people from all over the planet. From Flin Flon to New York. From Mongolia to Nunavut.
One of my favorite letters came in two parts; one from the purchaser and the other the receivers. 'J-Dogg," otherwise known as Jim, wanted to buy a babyTrekker for two people he'd met while playing a game at Astroempires.com. He didn't know them, but discovered that they were having a baby, and wanted them to have the same experience he did while wearing his sons. He wrote to me:
"It is such an excellent product! I wound up with a Major in Psychology at the Univ. of Man., and could easily suggest and support a major doctoral paper that the physical and psychological health benefits for both child and parents that result from using the Trekker would be measureable and significant. Really, it is science that should be used to promte the product as well as the joy and love that is generated :)" I agree, Jim.
The couple, who go by the handles, "Death" and "Pestilence" wrote this:
I got it in the mail and tore it open. Told my husband to stand still and geared him up without so much as finding the dvd. everything fit like a charm and once baby was in it... wow... I also wanted to mention that I have beyond severe spinal problems (tethered spinal cord plus I am missing 8% of the bones in my spine). For the moment I can carry Darius in the front position because he does not weigh much but I like the backpack option since it's more comfortable for me. But the 2 hour walk I was on with him in front, was almost painless considering my injuries. The weight was very nicely distributed. Kudos!
I hate sounding like those infomercial people but " My BabyTrekker is the BEST thing ever!!!!!!!!" insert overjoyed valley girl accent, despite the fact that I am french>
Again, thank you Judy for this wonderful liberation that you have made.
I have to say, when even death and pestilence are lining up to say good things, its time for all those neck binding, shoulder hurting, two positioned pure junk other carriers to say goodnight. Just kidding, but I have to admit, we in Trekker land are proud of our product.
If you love your babyTrekker, send me an email, or write to us at "I love my babyTrekker, on facebook. We love to hear from our customers!
The arrival of the Trekker had a fairly dramatic affect on their little one. He became enchanted by the scenery in his neighborhood, and would fall asleep after a leisurely stroll around the block. Every night! This mysterious and grateful client did not leave her name, or her address. But I remember her last words. She was still crying as she said them. "I hope you get very, very rich," she wept, ending with a hiccuped thanks. I have always appreciated this sentiment. Though there was no genie obeying that particular wish, it's true that I'm rich with love. Which is the most lasting currency there is, especially in these hard times.
I remember a grateful letter from a dairy farmer whose little one made the milking rounds on her mother's back. She told me how empowered the carrier made her feel, as a mother, and as a farmer. This was also before email,and I cherished that hand written letter, for the time it took out of such a busy woman's day.
We've received letters from carpenters, lawyers, doctors, chiropractors, actors, dancers, and many more. The babyTrekker has been worn by people from all over the planet. From Flin Flon to New York. From Mongolia to Nunavut.
One of my favorite letters came in two parts; one from the purchaser and the other the receivers. 'J-Dogg," otherwise known as Jim, wanted to buy a babyTrekker for two people he'd met while playing a game at Astroempires.com. He didn't know them, but discovered that they were having a baby, and wanted them to have the same experience he did while wearing his sons. He wrote to me:
"It is such an excellent product! I wound up with a Major in Psychology at the Univ. of Man., and could easily suggest and support a major doctoral paper that the physical and psychological health benefits for both child and parents that result from using the Trekker would be measureable and significant. Really, it is science that should be used to promte the product as well as the joy and love that is generated :)" I agree, Jim.
The couple, who go by the handles, "Death" and "Pestilence" wrote this:
I got it in the mail and tore it open. Told my husband to stand still and geared him up without so much as finding the dvd. everything fit like a charm and once baby was in it... wow... I also wanted to mention that I have beyond severe spinal problems (tethered spinal cord plus I am missing 8% of the bones in my spine). For the moment I can carry Darius in the front position because he does not weigh much but I like the backpack option since it's more comfortable for me. But the 2 hour walk I was on with him in front, was almost painless considering my injuries. The weight was very nicely distributed. Kudos!
I hate sounding like those infomercial people but " My BabyTrekker is the BEST thing ever!!!!!!!!" insert overjoyed valley girl accent, despite the fact that I am french>
Again, thank you Judy for this wonderful liberation that you have made.
I have to say, when even death and pestilence are lining up to say good things, its time for all those neck binding, shoulder hurting, two positioned pure junk other carriers to say goodnight. Just kidding, but I have to admit, we in Trekker land are proud of our product.
If you love your babyTrekker, send me an email, or write to us at "I love my babyTrekker, on facebook. We love to hear from our customers!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Grand baby Claire will be three months old next Friday. Besides being adorably cute and funny, she is connecting me to memories of her mother and sisters when they were babies. It's been a reality check for me. I'd always considered my first daughter to be my 'easiest' baby, but as she struggles with various mothering challenges, I'm remembering the reality of parenting her as a baby. From four to seven months of age, she would only nurse lying down. Not the end of the world, I know, but darned inconvenient while attending an out of town wedding or meeting new inlaws for the first time. Fortunately, I was able to trick her with a sneaky football hold, and we were once again able to sit up and nurse.
It's been a joy watching Claire grow from a newborn to a three month old. She recently graduated to the facing forward and the backpack position in the babyTrekker. The first time she faced out, her mother and I were walking through the neighborhood. Claire pumped her legs in excitement, scanning our neighbor's houses like an enthusiastic realtor. While discovering the world from the safety of her parents arms, this position also calms her down when she's overtired, and puts her to sleep in the evening.
The backpack position has proven invaluable, and I love watching mom talk and baby coo while working around the house. Claire loves to face out, but facing in works just as well for her. Our family recently took part in a weekend hockey tournament, and Claire attended her daddy and grandpa's games in the babyTrekker, seated facing out on her mother's lap. She watched the game for a while, her little face avidly scanning the rink and the other faces nearby. Then she quietly drifted off to sleep. I've been told that this seated position also works well on a plane.
One of the best things about seeing my daughter wear her baby in the Trekker, is knowing that she didn't have to design it. She only had to put it on. Those frantic evenings walking the floor with my second baby, Michelle, are seared into my memory. The babyTrekker began as a wistful thought, and grew into a determination to create something that would work for both of us. My day dream about the great carrier that would meet her needs and mine became a reality, over twenty-three years ago.
Many blessings to all the parents who walk the floor at nights with little ones, or who share yard work, or stroll through their neighborhoods on a warm evening. To Hilary and Bob, and to all of you who have made the babyTrekker such an important part of your family life; Happy Trekking.
It's been a joy watching Claire grow from a newborn to a three month old. She recently graduated to the facing forward and the backpack position in the babyTrekker. The first time she faced out, her mother and I were walking through the neighborhood. Claire pumped her legs in excitement, scanning our neighbor's houses like an enthusiastic realtor. While discovering the world from the safety of her parents arms, this position also calms her down when she's overtired, and puts her to sleep in the evening.
The backpack position has proven invaluable, and I love watching mom talk and baby coo while working around the house. Claire loves to face out, but facing in works just as well for her. Our family recently took part in a weekend hockey tournament, and Claire attended her daddy and grandpa's games in the babyTrekker, seated facing out on her mother's lap. She watched the game for a while, her little face avidly scanning the rink and the other faces nearby. Then she quietly drifted off to sleep. I've been told that this seated position also works well on a plane.
One of the best things about seeing my daughter wear her baby in the Trekker, is knowing that she didn't have to design it. She only had to put it on. Those frantic evenings walking the floor with my second baby, Michelle, are seared into my memory. The babyTrekker began as a wistful thought, and grew into a determination to create something that would work for both of us. My day dream about the great carrier that would meet her needs and mine became a reality, over twenty-three years ago.
Many blessings to all the parents who walk the floor at nights with little ones, or who share yard work, or stroll through their neighborhoods on a warm evening. To Hilary and Bob, and to all of you who have made the babyTrekker such an important part of your family life; Happy Trekking.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Welcome to the World
To Claire
May 14th was just another date on the calendar, until you chose it as your birth day. You and your mama worked so hard to get you here. Could you hear me cheering you on? Could you feel the tender hands of your father as he held your mother and rubbed her back, shouting with joy as you burst forth into the morning light? I remember your cries calming as your parents stroked you gently and exclaimed over you. I remember the gentle encouragement of Tobey and Moira, your midwives, as they helped you to nurse for the first time. How careful they were with your mother and you. How thankful I was to have them guiding your mother as she brought you into the world.
You are my daughter's daughter; the first born of my first born. You don't know me yet, but you are a part of me, and I am a part of you. I have no expectations of you, regarding who you will be. You are yourself, and even though you share your mother's eyes,your auntie's nose and your father's chin, you are unique to this world. I was privileged to witness the first chapter of your life, and I'm looking forward to all that is to come. Welcome to the world, Claire.
ps. I'm so glad that you love your babyTrekker.
May 14th was just another date on the calendar, until you chose it as your birth day. You and your mama worked so hard to get you here. Could you hear me cheering you on? Could you feel the tender hands of your father as he held your mother and rubbed her back, shouting with joy as you burst forth into the morning light? I remember your cries calming as your parents stroked you gently and exclaimed over you. I remember the gentle encouragement of Tobey and Moira, your midwives, as they helped you to nurse for the first time. How careful they were with your mother and you. How thankful I was to have them guiding your mother as she brought you into the world.
You are my daughter's daughter; the first born of my first born. You don't know me yet, but you are a part of me, and I am a part of you. I have no expectations of you, regarding who you will be. You are yourself, and even though you share your mother's eyes,your auntie's nose and your father's chin, you are unique to this world. I was privileged to witness the first chapter of your life, and I'm looking forward to all that is to come. Welcome to the world, Claire.
ps. I'm so glad that you love your babyTrekker.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
New Information on Slings
The juvenile product world is experiencing another product recall. Deep pocket slings, like the Infantino, may cause respiratory problems in babies under four months. According to the news, three babies have already died as a result. The sling product to avoid is one that puts the baby too far away from your face, making it hard to see what's happening. Also, if the baby is 'buried' under a lot of fabric, they may not be receiving enough fresh air. Another concern is the type of sling that puts the infant in a curve where their chin is forced to their chest, making it harder to draw in air. According to several blogging baby experts, if your baby is grunting, that may mean they're experiencing oxygen deprivation.
The goods news? There are lots of slings and carriers that hold baby high in a seated position with their face clear of the fabric. Check online with other parents and baby wearing advisers, but check for yourselves as well, and make sure that the sling or carrier that you are using meets that criteria.
While I'm on the subject, I do have a recommendation:) The babyTrekker newborn position seats baby facing inward, and there's plenty of room between your chest and your baby's face. Plus, you can see your baby easily. The carrier is open on the sides so lots of air flows between you. Go to wearing instructions on our website and follow the link to Youtube. Our two part instructional video shows the newborn position very clearly.
Notice that the seat is a comfortable width for your infant. Even when facing outward, your child stays in the seated position, their legs a comfortable distance apart. In essence, you become an easy chair for your baby, with their favorite person in the world attached! Every part of the carrier that touches your baby's body is soft and padded. The straps on your shoulders and waist are very padded as well, ensuring that you don't feel the presence of the buckles or snap hooks at all.
The babyTrekker allows your little one to sit in five positions. This versatility is a good thing, because babies like change. I would often start with my little one in the front, switch to the nursing position and then put her on my back. The backpack is especially useful for housework, gardening and hiking. All questions about the babyTrekker baby carrier may be directed to me, judy@babytrekker.com Happy Trekking!
The goods news? There are lots of slings and carriers that hold baby high in a seated position with their face clear of the fabric. Check online with other parents and baby wearing advisers, but check for yourselves as well, and make sure that the sling or carrier that you are using meets that criteria.
While I'm on the subject, I do have a recommendation:) The babyTrekker newborn position seats baby facing inward, and there's plenty of room between your chest and your baby's face. Plus, you can see your baby easily. The carrier is open on the sides so lots of air flows between you. Go to wearing instructions on our website and follow the link to Youtube. Our two part instructional video shows the newborn position very clearly.
Notice that the seat is a comfortable width for your infant. Even when facing outward, your child stays in the seated position, their legs a comfortable distance apart. In essence, you become an easy chair for your baby, with their favorite person in the world attached! Every part of the carrier that touches your baby's body is soft and padded. The straps on your shoulders and waist are very padded as well, ensuring that you don't feel the presence of the buckles or snap hooks at all.
The babyTrekker allows your little one to sit in five positions. This versatility is a good thing, because babies like change. I would often start with my little one in the front, switch to the nursing position and then put her on my back. The backpack is especially useful for housework, gardening and hiking. All questions about the babyTrekker baby carrier may be directed to me, judy@babytrekker.com Happy Trekking!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
There Must be Fifty Ways to Wear a Trekker
When I first designed the babyTrekker (back around the time that dinosaurs roamed the earth) it was to help my second baby, Michelle, make sense of her world. Like a convict who'd been in the big house too long, she had a definite lack of appreciation for her new found freedom. 'You've got to be kidding me' was the look on her face for at least the first few months of life. And if I'm being completely honest, sewing that first carrier was as much for me as for her. Wearing Michelle in the babyTrekker empowered me. Maybe I couldn't solve every problem for her, but I could calm her down. Help her feel like the world wasn't such a bad place. She got to hang out near her favorite fast food place, and I got to Get Things Done.
Over the years, I've heard from lots of parents who have worn the Trekker to multitask. Some are too bizarre to mention. (see Linda? I told you I wouldn't tell) But here are a few of my favorites. The trekker has been worn by:
1. An orchestra conductor, during a large musical extravaganza
2. A dairy farmer who had a lot of cows to milk
3. A ballet choreographer
4. A young man who wanted to jump out of an airplane with his baby. (We talked him out of it.)
5. A man with no arms who was happy just to hold his baby.
6. A woman with twins whose husband worked away from town for weeks on end. (I designed an attachment just for her:)
7. A woman who rides the train through France, telling everyone on board how much she loves her babyTrekker. She's been doing this for about fifteen years now. Thanks, whoever you are.
8. A nun in Italy, who loves to hold her niece.
9. A hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs, (but not during games.)
10. An artist who paints with her baby on her back.
11. A musician who plays the bagpipes with his baby on his back...who wails louder, I wonder?
12. Thousands of mountain climbers, hikers, cross country skiiers, travellers of the world, and people like me, who just want to make it through the day.
Send me an email, judy@babytrekker.com and tell me your interesting babyTrekker story. I'd love to hear from you!
Over the years, I've heard from lots of parents who have worn the Trekker to multitask. Some are too bizarre to mention. (see Linda? I told you I wouldn't tell) But here are a few of my favorites. The trekker has been worn by:
1. An orchestra conductor, during a large musical extravaganza
2. A dairy farmer who had a lot of cows to milk
3. A ballet choreographer
4. A young man who wanted to jump out of an airplane with his baby. (We talked him out of it.)
5. A man with no arms who was happy just to hold his baby.
6. A woman with twins whose husband worked away from town for weeks on end. (I designed an attachment just for her:)
7. A woman who rides the train through France, telling everyone on board how much she loves her babyTrekker. She's been doing this for about fifteen years now. Thanks, whoever you are.
8. A nun in Italy, who loves to hold her niece.
9. A hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs, (but not during games.)
10. An artist who paints with her baby on her back.
11. A musician who plays the bagpipes with his baby on his back...who wails louder, I wonder?
12. Thousands of mountain climbers, hikers, cross country skiiers, travellers of the world, and people like me, who just want to make it through the day.
Send me an email, judy@babytrekker.com and tell me your interesting babyTrekker story. I'd love to hear from you!
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