Some useful things to take..
Before setting out on this journey I had visions of travelling super light – just a small backpack and ohli carried in my arms or walking. But then the closer it got to our departing time, the more things I wanted to bring with us. Alongside carrying two people’s clothing there would be story books to read, favourite toys to bring, notebooks and sketchbooks, crayons, superfood supplements, a sprouting jar for making sprouts on the go, a slr digital camera that had just been given to me by my brother. A blanket, walking boots, half a dozen real nappies with wraps, liners, etc etc etc. Most of that I brought with us, and much more besides. So my small bag was replaced with a big and heavy one. Nearly all of those things have been left behind or given away now, and I’ve come to realize that it would be a much better way to let go of all of these things that I ‘think’ I need to have with us, and to restore my faith that if we need something and are open hearted, it will be provided by the world around us. I’m still working on this, and still do find it hard to let go of quite a lot of nice things. Ongoing work I guess, but it’s happening, slowly,,,
Here are some of the things that I brought and how useful I found them to be.
Here are some of the things that I brought and how useful I found them to be.
A buggy
I thought for ages about whether it would be a hassle or a help to have a buggy with us. And to be honest it’s a little bit of both. Travelling by train is hard as there’s rarely a place to store it folded up, I avoid most buses altogether as the door’s aren’t usually wide enough, escalators require balance and practice to get over the fear of tumbling down into the sharp metal, and most stations and shopping centres have so many staircases and no lifts that if no-one’s about I have to do a mad relay up the stairs with all my bags. But most pof these problems are only problems because I fill the buggy to collapsing npoint with all of our bags, so usually folding it up would be the solution. And there is one of the main benefits of having our buggy, and why I love it being with us - that big heavy bags are much easier to push than to carry. Usually Ohli walks or is on my back in a sling whilst I push all our things in the buggy. And when he needs to swap or gets tired he can sit and be pushed along. Also, having a portable bed is amazing, if I want to go out in the evening I sit with him nearby and have been to reggae festivals, beach fires, all that nice stuff. I’d really miss it if we hsadn’t brought it.
I have a mountain buggy, super sturdy with three wheels. It was second hand so I don’t feel precious about it being knocked about or damaged, as it often is, and the three wheels mean that we can go over any terrain, using it as a wheel barrow in the front wheel when the tracks are super narrow. It’s the terrain version, there is a more luxurious Urban version that we had previously, but it’s quite a lot wider and more bulky, even more trouble for those narrow doorways.
Baby carrier/sling
I brought two carriers with me, a large sturdy carrier that I imagined treking over mountans with, and a small comfy carrier called an ergo, which I have always used and is super convenient and easy. After four months of carrying this huge, heavy carrier with me I finally donated it to a charity shop, finally accepting the idea that I rarely go trekking. Ohli loved this carrier the most, he rode high up so got a great view of everything, and for him it was really comfy. The one I had had a little soft pillow and he would always have such a great sleep in there. But for me it wasn’t so great. As there’s so much room in there you end up putting in your water bottle, little bag etc so when you come to pick it up can barely lift it with the weight of a child too. And I think for a larger woman or for a father it may be a better shape, it felt huge and bulky to me.
Other useful things we've brought?
Real nappiesWe brought about 6 real nappies with us, which are the pre shaped bamboo kind. These have been amazing for those times when we’re out of the city, in the countryside when he needs a nappy like in other people’s houses or at night time. When we’re travelling from place to place or in a city I have started to use disposables, as lugging around a sack of wet heavy stinking nappies with no where to wash or dry them isn’t fun at all. But I have major guilt about using these too much, so do try to keep it to an essential minimum.
|
Books and toysWe brought three of Ohli's favourite books with us, but after just a few weeks we were both so bored of them.. We then took to watching cartoons on my mini laptop - not ideal parenting behaviour but a way for a few minutes of chill out time when we were feeling exhausted none the less. We both mostly only watch Studio Ghibli movies; fantastic and imaginative animations from Japanese director Hayao Miyasaki. I've now been buying paper and crayons and have a little set of watercolour paints; am planning on making little story books, maybe revolving around a little travelling boy and his adventures. Hopefully this will help little Ohli to process and pass easily through all the things he is experiencing.. What else can I recommend.. Little cars! Ohli is crazy about those little matchbox cars and luckily you can buy them in most 7/11's very cheaply. Compared to the cheapo plastic Chinese toys you find everywhere else they have the ability to last more than a day or so. The only thing I like about 7/11's.. I've also been attempting to make little hand puppets for long journeys, for the times when I do have the energy to interact and want to creatively play together. |