Watching programmes like ‘The Secret Millionaire’ , I am in awe of the selfless people the millionaires meet who dedicate their lives to their local communities not wanting anything in return. I always come away from watching that programme thinking I’ll probably volunteer when I’m old and grey and have more time. If you’d have asked me 6 months ago if I would like to commit to volunteering whilst raising my young family, I’d have said “not today, thank you!”
Funny thing is, through attending my local breastfeeding support group, I am actually now giving some ‘spare’ time to others AND bringing my boys up.
And I love it!
If I can squeeze it in to my scatty life then you can do it too. Find something you’re passionate about and enjoy reclaiming a little piece of yourself. The best thing is, as a stay-at-home-mum, I am with the boys 24/7 so spending a couple of hours a week away from them really helps to appreciate them more. I absolutely love coming home to their cheeky smiles.
Helping other Mums while I myself am immersed in the baby-stage is brilliant and really rewarding. I was given ill informed, incorrect advice from a Health Professional when I was feeding Spud and it led to me weaning him before either of us were ready. It is really lovely when you are able to help a Mum in their darkest hour or steer them towards the correct place for advice if you can’t physically make a difference.
Breastfeeding is completely normal and natural but can be very complicated, especially in the early days and I don’t know any Mums who haven’t needed any support at some point in their journey. Support can range from tweaking position & attachment to just lending an ear and having a chat about poops, sleep-deprivation and wind!
If you are having difficulties feeding, please go along to a local support group. The health professionals who run the groups (or NCT lactation support workers) deal with breastfeeding issues every day. They really know their stuff and usually love a good chat so if you don’t have any questions or specific problems, go along and meet some new Mums. I have met all my ‘baby friends’ through my local support group in one way or another.
If you think you would like to volunteer but have no clue where to start, your local council should be able to help point you in the right direction. Alternatively, try these websites:
Do-It – Volunteering Made Easy
