by Tanessa Dillard Noll
Look for Tanessa’s article every month as she shares her experiences raising her 9-month-old son, Guy, on the tools and insights offered in our magazine.
My mom had finally transferred some of the old family film reels onto DVD. As I unwrapped the package, I couldn’t wait to see my parents as athletes, students, and friends and relive my own earliest yet foggy memories. As I watched the oncesilent films, now accompanied by a jazzy soundtrack, I felt a strong sense of gratitude for the life my parents had given my three sisters and me.
Watching the home videos inspired me to think more about how I might empower and create a happy home for my nine-month-old son, Guy. One struggle is our sleep schedule. When he finally falls asleep at night, I welcome the time to get things done such as dishes, laundry, and bills. Sometimes I sneak in a movie or make a phone call to one of my sisters. I pay the price in the morning for my nightly freedom when Guy wakes up at least an hour before me. Although I try to coax him back to sleep, it’s a struggle that I eventually lose.
In my quest to become a more conscious parent, I decided to try EFT. I followed the instructions from the August issue of NSFM. As I tapped, beginning with the karate-chop point on the hands and ending with the underarms, I said, “Even though I am feeling overwhelmed, I am an awesome kid.” I said kid because something in the old family films reminded me that I was that same little girl playing in the snow and cuddling in my daddy’s arms. I tend to be kinder and more forgiving to myself when I remember that I was once a child. The immediate feeling was as if I was being massaged. I appreciated that relaxing calm that passed over me from the tapping.
The next morning, when Guy woke up early, there was no struggle. I had slept much better than usual and I was ready for the day. I had filled my calendar with “to dos,” but I took the day at a leisurely pace. Guy and I went to the grocery store, where I enjoyed finding nourishing food for my family. Later, I put Guy in the stroller, and we walked to the park. He normally falls asleep on walks, but this time he stayed awake. I introduced him to the different textures of trees and other plants at the park. I had plenty of time to get things done later on that day.
I now get up in the morning with Guy. What a difference it has made to accept his needs rather than try to force him to live with mine. The time will come when he will learn to incorporate others’ wants, but, until then, I have enjoyed finding ways to meet his needs that are also fulfilling to me.
I continue to look for other ways to empower his world. He loves taking baths, seeing faces, going outside, and eating fresh fruits and vegetables. Why not give him these experiences often? Now I make a point to stop and share the joy these simple activities bring. My husband and I both agree that a happy baby makes an especially happy family. I look forward to the day when Guy watches old home videos and reflects on the empowering experiences of his childhood.
From NSFM:
Infants are equipped with a system that wants to make sense out of their world. Patterns, repetitions, movement, all sorts of experiences create connections that catalyze a child’s learning process and later become the basis for their transition to learning in school. Stimulate your baby’s life through touch, taste, sound, smell, and sight. If it’s a warm day, run her toes under cool water. Hold him near a tree and let him feel the leaves. Play different kinds of music and see how your baby responds. Hold up similar objects of different colors and see how your baby recognizes a difference. How you interact with your baby now helps your child learn to be comfortable and excited about life.
September 2007