COMMUNITY
Mum in Doha celebrates new baby boy Words and images by Lynsey Riach
Have a new infant at home? ‘It takes a village to raise a child,’ the saying goes, so reach out to a supportive community of mothers for help and guidance.
A
s I type this latest column with a strong cup of tea in one hand, I find myself distracted by our beautiful newborn baby boy who is just within my reach. He may be our second child but I’m still amazed at how magical it all is again. Those sleepless nights may have returned but so too has the smell of a newborn baby. His super soft skin and tiny baby clothes leave me in utter awe and complete wonder that this baby is in fact ours. We are only a few weeks in but I’m finding myself to be much more relaxed, present, patient, and enjoying it more this time around as I know from experience just how fast it all goes!
Having already had a child I have managed to find some inner belief that we actually know what we are doing and those frantic midnight Google searches are now firmly a thing of the past, thankfully! And whether a new mum or not, living away from family and friends can come with its challenges, and even if you are graced by the presence of visitors to ‘help out,’ it can still be rather overwhelming to feel the need to entertain them, help them work your washing machine, and for me, juggle a toddler, a newborn, and two dogs all at the same time. Of course we are always grateful of help, and my best advice to any fellow mum? Take any help you can get! But as we do all live away from our homes, what have we in Doha in terms of a support network for mums? You may have heard of Doha Mums - a thriving community of, you guessed it, passionate mums from all over the world living right here, with a private forum full of advice and support, a calendar bursting with over 90 events and activities a month
ranging from playgroups, coffee catch-ups, spa days, cooking classes, and even mums’ nights out (we like the sound of that!). Doha Mums also has their very own children’s library with over 6,000 catalogued books perfect for the little ones, and a Facebook page that updates us on new baby classes and discounts at many retailers, not to forget just general tips and tricks. It’s a must for a mum in our town! If you happen to live on The Pearl, there are also several mummy groups to be involved in or simply follow on social media, such as Mums from The Pearl and The Pearl Ladies Networking Page, to name a few. They provide up-to-the-minute news on events, including our personal favourite pop-up play group called Little Softies that happens at random notice. A strong tribe of mums is what can help us through the long days and sometimes even longer nights, and as our babies grow fast and begin to walk, it’s memorable to share these milestones with others on the same path as ourselves. Often this leads to lifelong friendships being moulded in this place we call our home away from home. Until next time, hug your babies tight and smile at the miracle that is life! n
1