Babywearing Around Tulsa: Obimama

Showing posts with label Obimama. Show all posts

Monday, February 2, 2015

Growth

WARNING: Sappy post to follow.

I thought about taking this back to the beginning. Back to when we had a half dozen people per meeting and a dozen was a really big day. Back to when we didn't have the giant lending library we have now so each mama who came brought every carrier they owned, whether it was 1 or 10, and dumped them all out on the tables in the room for everyone else to try. Back when there was room to spread out a blanket on the floor and plop all the kiddos on it. But that was way too many pictures and I still want the post to be able to load on your computer. ;-)

My how we have grown. Even though everything in the intro paragraph may sound wonderful and perfect and ideal to some people -- and it was a wonderful and perfect beginning to Babywearing Around Tulsa -- what we have grown into is AMAZING.

We have tried new things and made new friends. We have fund raised and saved dues money and searched hard for good deals. We have grown an impressive lending library and we shared our message with so, so many parents and caregivers.

We have lived through carrier fads. ;-) We have worked through different meeting structures and teaching techniques. We have LOVED getting together every month.

We don't always remember to take a group photo, but when we do they are always an awesome mix of moms, dads, grandparents and babies. The mix of carriers is always amazing.

We love that in BWAT wrappers, SSC lovers, Mei Tai enthusiasts and ring sling fanatics can coexist and do so lovingly. And that its very hard to get a group photo where no one is talking, because everyone loves to talk to each other so much we just can't stop.

If you want to learn to wear your baby, you are welcome here. If you have your one beloved wrap and need no other carrier, you are welcome here. If you want to collect all the pretty SSCs you can get your hands on, you are welcome here. If you want to learn to carry your newborn, you are welcome here. If you want to try a preschool size KP for your big kid, you are welcome here (and we have one in the lending library).

Twins, singletons, front carries, back carries, fancy finishes, ring slings, stretchy wraps..... We work with you to find the perfect carrier for you and your baby. One of the things that makes BWAT so special is that we know there isn't a one size fits all solution to babywearing and we celebrate our diversity.

The support that this group has provided to so many is invaluable. I hope I can get to know each and every one of you. At our current size, I know its virtually impossible, but please know that I value every one of you anyway. (3000 facebook members, guys! We have OVER 3000 facebook members. Can you believe that? My mind is blown.)

The friendships that have been forged here are strong and deep. Together we have learned so much and continue to do so.

Together we grow.

Somer Johnson is a Babywearing enthusiast and Momma to E, a bundle of energy. She is a Babywearing Institue Certified Babywearing Educator. She is also addicted to cloth diapers and makes and sells wool dryer balls as SomerKnits. Occasionally she also carves out some time to knit, spin or weave - her main pre-baby passions.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Traveling Wraps: What’s That?

Not long into my babywearing journey I was scrolling through Facebook one day and I came across something new and just way to cool to pass. Traveling wrap groups! I was so intrigued I had to see what this was about. Ever since I tell everyone I can, well if they are interested, and I get asked all the time, “What is a travelling wrap group?” So that is where the idea for this blog post came to be.

First, you make a feedback link inside the group. Feedback is simply a picture of your choosing where people can write what their experience with you that way others will know to trust you or not.

Second, you pick one of your wraps or carriers out that you feel comfortable with sending to other moms you don’t know. You post a picture of it and all the important information like: fiber, value because each host mails it to the next with insurance for the full value, how many hosts, length of travel which is usually one week per host, etc. Moms will comment on it if they are interested in hosting it for you. They will each provide a link to their feedback so you can decide if you would like to work with them or not. Once you pick out the hosts you make an event page inside the group where the hosts can post tracking information and pictures as it is traveling. Once you decide what order the travel will go on you simply mail it to the first home then it will go from home to home until it arrives back with you. Other ways you can send wraps travelling is through round robins where a set number of people all send a wrap out and everyone in that group gets to have someone’s wrap for the full travel period. You can also temporarily trade with just one person.

Third, once you send something travelling you get to start hosting some awesome wraps and carriers.

Travelling may be fun but I need to be honest at the same time. Costs: I have always paid between $6-$19 per wrap to mail it to the next hosts so you can do the math $6-$19 X 40. Sometimes I really miss my wrap while it is away from home, I mean really miss it. The entire system works on trust. I have been blessed by working with some amazing moms, but I have heard a few but not many horror stories.

Groups I am a member of and you should join me: Wrap Wanderlust, Churny Mama’s Traveling Wraps, Motherhood of the Traveling Wraps, and Traveling Woven Wraps.

What have I hosted and sent traveling? I’m so glad you asked J I’ll start with my travelers.

1. Girasol Double Rainbow visited 5 mamas

2. Tukula Ring Sling visited 3 mamas

3. Kinderpack visited 4 mamas

4. Girasol Tenango visited 12 mamas

5. Girasol Flamenco visited 3 mamas

6. Girasol Double Rainbow ring sling visited 5 mamas

7. Tula visited 2 mamas

8. Kokadi Love In Your Heart visited 2 mamas

9. Oscha Nova Roses just started its journey to visit 4 mamas

And the ones I have hosted in the order I hosted them:

1. Pavo Cheetah Wild

2. Tekhni Eco

3. Natibaby Feathers

4. Girasol Marley wcrs

5. Didymos Ellipsen with silk

6. Toddler Tula “Prepster”

7. Natibaby Shiny Sky

8. Storch Leo

9. Obimama Mei Tai

10. Pavo Hearts

11. Pavo Spice

12. Natibaby Brezo

13. Firespiral Seafoam

14. Dream Carriers Thread wcfb

15. Oscha Knots

16. Tula full conversion Girasol

17. Didymos Alpaca Gold

18. Tekhni Portico

19. Natural Hemp India

20. Didymos Indo wcrs

21. Kokadi Ahoi

22. Didymos Cleo

23. Oscha Okinami Blue Ice

24. Girasol Dark Rainbow wchb

25. Hoptye Pune

26. Plume Handwoven

27. Ovolo Fletching Wagtail

28. Tekhni Olympus Tidepool

29. Kokadi Eisvogel wcrs

30. Girasol Symphuo

31. Tekhni Ceres Raspberry

So you’ve seen my list. What is on your wish list to try?

My name is Mandi Pitts. I am a mom to two beautiful girls. I have a home daycare where I get to practice wrapping plenty of adorable babies. Even though I started late I love Babywearing! #wearallthebabies In my spare time I like to go to paint classes where there is no way you can mess up. On the weekends you can usually find our family camping, swimming, and riding our wave runners on the beautiful shores of Lake Eufaula.