Middle of the Ride

Last week I had the opportunity to head down the 400 highway with a fantastic friend and experience Echo Beach (not a beach) with a crowd loving the music of Jimmy Eat World. I used to be an avid concert goer. I love music and going to large venues to feel the vibe of the crowd listening to my favourite and new-to-me musicians was my drug.

I remember that feeling of standing in a crowd surrounded by strangers with the smell of marijuana wafting around me (from others, no judgement) singing at the top of our lungs to the likes of Our Lady Peace, Foo Fighters, Green Day, Mumford and Sons, I Mother Earth, and my first concert: Oasis.

The feeling of being surrounded by complete strangers joined in one common love is powerful and one I am grateful to be brought back to last night.

I’m rambling here a bit - but for purpose. The entry into parenthood isn’t easy and if you follow along in my other blog posts and Instagram etc you are familiar with my background and specialization of perinatal mental health. But here I want to bring this awareness from a different space.

When you enter into motherhood its a little bit like going to a rock concert. You might know a few people that also are excited to be there, but mostly you are surrounded by strangers. Strangers that have something in common with you in wanting to see the musicians, but beyond that they are mysteries.

Showing up to a mom and baby group is a little like this. Your small humans are the band, the moms are the fans. When someone “passes out” due to over indulgence or heat at a concert strangers come to rescue finding them water, getting security and giving space. At a mom group, when there’s a blow out or spit up wipes come flying from strangers, space is given to mom and advice - wanted or not is freely offered.

There’s more to this analogy, but I think you get it. There are parts of you that not everyone knows. Parts that come out when you are belting out “Clumsy” or “Middle”, parts that can be one with strangers in a crowd, and parts that do not want to be see. And motherhood can support these parts, help these parts to thrive if you let it.

Just because your role now includes “mom” does not mean you only connect with the people that started the journey into parenthood with you. Open your mind and heart to connecting with the strangers singing the same songs and you never know what concert you might end up at next.