A lot has changed in the last year. Of course, this comes as no surprise and I am sure has affected you also in many ways.
Slingababy moved to online teaching and the slings stayed in storage. We hoped things would return to the previous format but it looks like we will be in limbo for a while yet. After much pondering, I decided that it was time to let the slings go so they could return to their purpose of loving and connecting. So I packed my van full with the extensive collection and drove them to the amazing Jeni at Little Possums Pre-loved.
I was expecting a long task but I was not ready for the emotional journey I was about to embark.
You see, the sling collection is more than a bunch of slings. It is a collection of stories, anecdotes and feelings. It is my story, my mothering, my chapter and it is woven with many other lives along the way. I am sure many of you will identify with some of the aspects of this story.
It all started with the birth of my son in 2010. There was one sling (a Je Porte mon Bebe in lavender and chestnut), then there was a second so I could wash the first, then came the colour variations. After a few months of carrying, I went on my first consultancy course and discovered the extensive world of slings and possibilities. I was hooked. I wanted all the types, all the styles, all the options. At the time, I was feeling very lonely as my relationship with my son’s father was crumbling, so many of the early slings were bought to fill the void. It won’t surprise you that the void was not filled but the sling shelves were looking rather full. As I opened the school, the sling collection was modest and grew slowly to start with. From purchases of the heart, I started to add the practical ones. Really, it started with my loved slings and grew to a mix of personal ones and specifically purchased ones. As the school grew, I started to meet many manufacturers and the donations started to make their ways into the collection. When I got pregnant with my daughter, I was excited about the prospect of trying some of these new gorgeous slings. So overall, when I look at the sling collection, I see my children (now 10 and 6). I see the hard times and the good times. I see the parenting and the relationships. I see my growth. I see Slingababy. I see the many consultants and their growth. I see the boomerang slings. I see tears and laughter. I see friendships. I see times moving. I see life.
I am not a materialistic person. I live in a tiny home and enjoy a very simple life but these slings have been a big part of my life and as Jeni and I were going through the huge pile taking over her living room, I couldn’t help but feel all the feels come out*. I wanted to tell all the stories. I wanted to hold onto them that little bit longer.
I have now shed many tears and I know that there are more tears coming. As I am typing this post, more are making their way out of my heart and onto my cheeks. The grief…. The grief of the early years, the grief of change, the grief of the last year… A page is turning but I know that it is bittersweet, not just bitter. So I look at the joy and I think of the unknown new chapters coming to my life and Slingababy’s. I think of the collection of slings and imagine the joy they will bring. I hope they are loved. I sure did put a big piece of my heart in them.
If you don’t know about Jeni’s work check Little Possums Pre-loved on Facebook. She brings second-hand slings to families with extremely reasonable prices and payment plan options.
And if you fell in love with any of the slings during the Slingababy course, you may find it on her shelves.
If you end-up buying one of the slings from the Slingababy collection, please please please share a picture with us.
* the sling that opened the flood gates: Didymos Lena
