BarefootinBoston

Yesterday was my first session of a class I am taking called Yoga and Mindful Parenting.  It’s offered by the local family network, and is FREE.  Not only is the class free,  but childcare for your little one, for two hours, is also free.  I have been both looking forward to and dreading the first class for weeks.

I love yoga.  It completely chills me out and puts me in an amazing relaxed state.  Since E, I haven’t done it at all.  I miss it terribly.  When I saw I could sign up for a free class, I was all for it.  Except, I was really afraid to put E into childcare for two hours.  Afraid that when I would get out of the class, the people would tell me that I have to find someplace else to bring him as he is too much for them to handle.

I got to the spot a half hour early so I could settle E into the place, talk to the providers, and get myself ready.  E was really excited by all the new toys and new faces.  I had a few tears in my eyes as I was talking with him about what I was doing and what he was going to be doing.  Then one of them women came over, talked to me, put E on her hip, I gave him a kiss, and I was off.

The whole class time all I could think about was E.  I have heard this gets better, and I hope so.   I’m interested to see what happens with the class.  It’s a mixed group of women (E is the youngest babe there) and there are a few of the mothers who don’t get out much who talk too much in the group too, which will make for an interesting, hopefully not too frustrating, class.

It will just be nice to have a few moments out of the day where I am spending time having adult conversation and doing some yoga.  I’m sure when the 8 weeks are up, I will be quite disappointed!

I’m not sure if this is something that all places across the US have, but in my area, we have family networks, in the cities around me.  The family network I am leaving is amazing.  They offer play groups, workshops, classes, weekend activities.  I wonder if my new town’s network will be just as good.

Before I knew that I was changing towns, I signed up for a couple of events through MFN-a curious george  breakfast and a yoga and mindful parenting class.   Both of these events begin after I leave the town.  I feel slightly guilty, but am reassured by MJ that I ‘haven’t taken full advantage’ of the program while I was here, so doing these two things isn’t bad.

I am glad to have her reassurance because I am so incredibly excited to do the yoga and mindful parenting-it’s something like 7 Monday’s, for 2 hours.  The MFN provides childcare, and there’s a teacher (who assigns weekly readings, but I’ve been told they are enjoyable), all FREE of charge.  Wow!  I cannot even believe that I will have a couple hours to ‘myself’, without having to pay someone to watch E, make sure that the schedules match up with A, or even pay for a class myself.  It’s so exciting.

I’m also trying to convince A to let me sign up for a gym membership in a couple of months….it’s quite a large sum of money-$70 a month, BUT there is free childcare, for up to 2 1/2 hours!?!  The gym offers amazing classes, and, did I mention, free childcare!  I am just envisioning the peaceful person I can become, going to yoga, pilates, working out, during the day and getting a much needed break for E, while making myself healthier, both mentally and physically.  I don’t think I could ask for much more, well, maybe an extra $70 a month so I wouldn’t have to do any more convincing.

But back to the networks, I have been extremely  hesitant to move towns since this is where ‘life with E’ began-all of my groups, friends, are all in this area.  I am not moving but 5 miles, but it feels a lifetime away (not to mention, with traffic, 5 miles can be 30 minutes).  But, I’m also incredibly hopeful for what awaits me in the new town.  Meeting new people, discovering new places-it will be a fun new adventure.