“Solitude is fine but you need someone to tell that solitude is fine.”
― Honoré de Balzac

It`s in our genes: as human beings, we always need to be in contact with other people. And though solitude may be fine at times, when imposed for a longer period, it could damage us.

I couldn`t have imagined that such a crisis would hit us, and this crisis would keep so many people apart and for so long. The imposed social distancing we`re facing these days took us by surprise and, though we can adapt to many social situations, adapting to a non-social life seems hard.

Explaining to the children why we need to stay apart from each other and the fact that we didn`t have an answer to the “When will this end?” question, was a difficult part because we were still searching for an answer to ourselves.

We got used to being around each other all day long, we reconfigured many habits and schedules. Not all of them were gladly accepted but still needed to be done. And though we discovered again that playing with the kids is fun, or that we manage to read books we didn`t have the chance to read in the daily routine before the virus, we appreciated the time to watch a movie, the most important link in this chain was missing: socializing. We miss all the activities, the meetings, and the long talks.

💗 I decided that when the restrictions are no longer an issue, my first thing would be to meet with my parents. We`ve seen each other through video calls constantly, but they still cry when they see us and their grandchildren, knowing we are living so close to each other, yet we cannot visit them.

💗  During this lockdown, some of my closest friends grew their bellies in pregnancy, others gave birth to their babies. I  can`t wait to see them and get to hug them for real not just through some emojis on WhatsApp.

💗 I will take my long walks, eating ice cream, while I watch my children playing or even fighting with other children at the playground…and I`ll enjoy it.

💗 We`re going to make holiday plans again, even if it means that we will only travel on short distances at the beginning… I do not mind, as long as I have the freedom to do so.

💗 My friends and I will plan a weekend to relax in the nature and share the whole lockdown experience, this will be good for our brains.

💗 I will finally get to take the kids outside and leave the TV, and other gadgets behind.

Thank you, internet, you are awesome but I can`t wait to break up with you for a while.

I`m fed up with positive vibes transmitted over Facebook, I want to take mine directly from the source – my loved ones.

I want to wear a smile when I go out, instead of a protective mask.

I want to give long hugs to my family and not just wave to them in front of the camera.

What will you plan to do when the lockdown is over?

Nothing prepares you for this.

It was the summer of 2016 when I found out I was pregnant again, with twins, after years of trying, IVF and 1 stillborn at 38 weeks, just about when I was due. Even though I tried to stay away from bad thoughts, every now and then, some crossed my mind. I couldn’t help not to think of the many risks a pregnancy comes with, because I knew them very well. Too well. But I hoped that God might have a different plan this time, after all I’ve been through. My pregnancy was one of mixed emotions. I knew that it wasn’t going to be an easy road but somehow I managed to keep my hopes alive.

Contractions started at 28 weeks. We rushed to the hospital and the amazing team managed to stop them. I was sent home after 2 weeks, feeling better. I knew that something can go wrong anytime so I put myself to bed rest. I counted every day that went by and getting to 34 weeks felt like a blessing. I knew that I might not get very much further than this, but even though I did not think that giving birth would be so early the past 34 weeks.

1 day past my 34 weeks mark I started to have contractions again. But this time they were different, I remembered them from my previous pregnancy. We rushed to the hospital again and 10 hours later my baby boy and my baby girl ware born, 40 cm – 2045 gr, 39 cm – 1900 gr. They were breathing surprisingly good, but the doctors took them to the incubator anyway.

We stayed for 38 days in the hospital. For us, everything was good because, thankfully, my babies were putting on weight very well. But the reality behind the doors where premature babies were taken care of is something you cannot prepare for.

The silence behind those doors was immense. No baby crying. No giggling.

Breathing seemed hard. If you listened closely you could even hear your heartbeat. I almost felt guilty for the pace I felt seeing my big babies getting stronger. It seems strange, but yes, my babies were big, compared to the other premature babies.

Preparing a baby for going home was treated almost like a celebration. It was like another milestone was added to their lifespan along with going to school, graduation, getting married, having children…

Seeing all those babies fighting for their lives was the lesson I will never forget. The lesson that brings me tears of joy every day when we are healthy and strong.

No one should never experience this. No one should see their baby helpless in a glass box, struggling to breathe.

No baby should be kept away from their mother’s touch, embrace, breast… They should be put in their parents’ arms and never let go until they want to leave to discover the world.

For them we pray. For the power that grows from within every time, they hear mother’s voice. To become stronger and healthier. To go home…

Anonymous story we received in November 2019 from one of our babywearing mamas.

Mothers all over the world were celebrated last month and I just think that no celebration whatsoever could ever be rewarding enough to all the hard work and sacrifices they are making (even though we are having fun, too).

So, here’s to you, wonderful beings, may you live long and get your crafty hands and minds and souls always be appreciated for their true value!
This week was so much about moms, that it only came naturally to me to think: hey, how about the fathers? Only to find out that, actually the last day of the week was dedicated to the fathers, the number one supporter of a mom.

That man that held your head in the bathroom when nausea kicked in when you got pregnant. The one who was so uncomfortable at the monthly ObGyn checking, but, still, never missed one of them. The one who laced your shoes when your belly was so big that you had forgotten you even had knees. That man who encouraged you every time you felt useless. That man who wished he were in your shoes during labor (no you don’t) just to ease a bit the pain. The one who reminded you during labor of the breathing techniques he’d learned with you at Lamaze. That man who cried along with you when you held your baby for the first time. The one who wished that the baby came with the instructions booklet, so he can know, just like you, what to do whenever the baby cries, but still, figures out hilarious ways to soothe him. The one who understands so well your exhaustion, that, at night, when the baby wakes up for breastfeeding, he’s just uncovering you and latches baby on, so that you can enjoy further your deep sleep. That man who seems so clumsy near all your baby daughter’s dolls, but is having so much fun drinking tea with her from pink, small cups. The one who looks better than you while babywearing (let’s admit that) and he’s so proud of that. It’s the man who, despite his lack of maternal instinct, has built the best friendship with his baby, and you can see that in the eyes of the little one.

Let’s give them all the credit for doing their best in this crazy job called parenting. This is to you, dads all over the world! You make motherhood and childhood awesome!

Let me tell you a little secret! ISARA has just discovered its secret place.

The sleeping dust is not coming from a fairy. It is closer to you than you could even imagine.
Babywearing. Your strongest enchantment in a normal day as a mother.

It makes you feel like the world is at your feet. Nothing can stop you. Your baby’s hug gives you the strongest power. Your day gets better with his every breath close to you.

Here is where all the sleeping dust is coming from. From trusting yourself! From every beat of your loving heart!

Happy ISARAwearing!

Featured baby carrier: ISARA V3 Garden Splendor, standard size.

My perfection. My balance. My everything.

This is you.

When I wake up tired, without the mood of getting out of bed, there you are, with your eyes wide open, looking at me with excitement, ready for a new day. Spent with me. And that’s all I need to keep me energized all day long.

When my day goes bad, your smile brings in the sunshine. If it rains, I don’t care if I’m getting soaking wet as long as I keep you warm, because I know that you’ll laugh at my sight. You make every bad moment seem the most beautiful in the world!

If the food I’m getting ready gets burned, I know you won’t be upset, because a bar of cereals will make just as happy as long as I’m with you.

I look at you and I see perfection. I see everything that I ever needed in order to feel complete. There are no sharp edges in my life because you’ve made it a PERFECT CIRCLE.

For the night, there’s a day; for me, it’s you!

The perfect circle. This is our inspiration.

For centuries people have tried to give scientifical explanations to human feelings. We tend to keep finding best words and phrases to express how we feel. Well, apparently it’s an ongoing situation, as new phrases and words seem to take shape of happiness, joy, sadness, anger, satisfaction, and all the other feelings that make us special. Of all these, LOVE definitely conquers the tops. Still, it is when we burst with love and realize that words simply cannot cover the unlimited feeling, that we take gestures to their real value. There are so many ways of showing love and care: hugs, kisses, laughter, dancing together…holding hands! Yes, holding hands!

In the chaos and agitation of the first months with our newborn baby at home, all our attention (mine and my husband’s) was redirected towards our loved little one, often forgetting or being too tired to reconnect. When we were planning the baptism of the baby and had to run with different chores just the two of us, we found ourselves alone after some time, and our first gesture was to hold hands, no words, just hold hands. Overwhelming, I’m telling you!
That moment we realized that hands can be held while carrying our baby, also close to the beating of our hearts. So there it is, the circle of love, never letting it go, no fancy words, no poetry, just pure love.

No wonder baby carrying and love go hand-in-hand.

Carry kids with love, hold hands forever!

Mirela,

mommy in love of a sweet 3 and a half years old boy

Kindness is the essence of life. We cherish and support it. With all our hearts…
We like to thank, not for something that has been done for us, but what others have done for others… without expecting anything in return.
We know that only by offering you can receive. Maybe not today, but someday, in one form or another. It’s just like a boomerang. It always comes back. You deliver kindness. You receive kindness.
Offer kind words. You’ll receive them back in return. Maybe not from the same person, not the day you want it, but from someone else, on the day that you will then realize you needed it most…
Offer small nice gestures. And one day, someone will offer it back to you. A different nice gesture, but as meaningful as the one you offered.
This is what we call kindness. It can take all kind of forms. Be kind. Be supportive. Cherish kindness. Help other how you can. When you can.

We are grateful that we could support during last year 6 foundations that are guided by these principles.

„One by One” Association (Asociația ”Unu și Unu” ) is the voice of premature hospitalized babies in Romania. As a member of the European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants, their mission is to increase babies’ health through prevention programs by increasing population’s knowledge regarding the importance of health care. They built the foundation of a healthy society and that’s something that we’ll always be grateful for.

SAMAS Association is dedicated to informing young parents regarding the importance of nutrition during infancy. They know how essential breastfeeding is, that’s why one of their main objectives is to increase the breastfeeding rate among young parents. Natural childbirth is also one of their principles. Going back to natural habits, how beautiful!

”Save the children” (”Salvati copiii”) is the heart of some of the most full of impact campaigns. They provide hospitals with the needed technology in order to support premature babies and run all sort of campaigns of prevention. Their results are remarkable and over the years many children were saved because of their pure kindness.

Noe’s Arch (”Arca lui Noe”) is an Association that brings all the attention towards human’s best friends: dogs. Because dogs also need a best friend. Here they have it. Love and attention, besides the essentials for a healthy, happy life.

”Children’s forest” (”Padurea copiilor”) is a project with a strong educational impact. Its aim is the love for nature. Its purpose is to bring back all the green on the world map, by planting forests and raising awareness towards how important nature is.

January has passed and we always call it the trial month, when we gather all our fulfilled dreams from the passing year and cherish each one of them. We’ve had an amazing year. It has been lovely meeting each one of these Associations and we’re happy to see that this world is more and more focused on kindness. Because, remember, this is the essence of life.

Here in Romania, as we are about the celebrate Easter, our kids are becoming more and more excited by the fact that, soon, the Easter Bunny is about to bring them beautiful gifts and leave them in the decorated and coloured basket full of fresh grass.

Holiday times are full of magic for our children! You know I am right, just try to remember to most beautiful moments you recall as a memory from when you were just a kid…. when every sound of a bell, wind breeze, and footstep was full of suspense, unbeatable!

How amazing it can be, sharing with our children a piece of the most cherished moments that we have lived with our parents!

The existence of the easter bunny in your children`s life has such a fascinating impact on them! I really think the easter bunny should be upgraded to a superhero!

The easter bunny represents the altruism! This is one of the best examples of kindness that we can offer to our children! This is the way they find out there is kindness in this world, just because there is someone out there willing to give them gifts no matter how the year has been (short translation, if they have behaved or not, haha :)) ). It is a magic that you can use towards developing a good education because just like I have said before, it is an example of kindness!

On the other hand, the magic of the holiday, the easter bunny, stimulates the child’s imagination. Yes, your child is passing through some incredible imagination exercises!

”How is it possible that all these gifts are now in the basket? Why did I not see the easter bunny? Hmmm, I am sure he has superpowers that make him invisible and super fast!” 

We know how important is to stimulate his creativity from a young age! Children have such a strong potential in developing a great imagination; just think of how a stick can become a magic sword, or how easily they can create a parallel universe, that we, the adults, cannot even think of!

And, nevertheless, the moments before its arrival, when the family gathers in order to get the Easter goodies and the delicious cakes ready,  are priceless!

Let’s leave the boundaries of their imagination open, let them dream on… these full of pure innocence years are just flying!

I guess we really DO have to consider the easter bunny a superhero! 🙂