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.