Sharing photos with family and friends within seconds of taking them, having a record of memories that may otherwise be forgotten, and showing off momentous milestones are just some of ways that social media has changed parenting. Social media is great. Social media can also be very isolating. When my elder boy was a baby I couldn't help but continually scroll through photos that friends posted of their children reaching various milestones, and long to be able to do the same - but even when a milestone was reached, it would often be done with tears and screaming and the end results were not really the typical social media worthy photos.
These days there are so many wonderful photo props available to use whilst we snap away at our little ones, however I often wonder how I'd have felt if these were around during the first year of my elder boys life. Most parents have moments where they wish they could go back in time and re-live stages of their children's lives, and I'm no exception. Development may have (and may still be) happening at a different rate and in a different order to the children around him, but I wish I could go back to that first year and re-assure myself that difference doesn't matter.
This is what has driven me to create custom made moment and motivational cards. All of this has made me want to help families savour the moment and embrace the life they live whether that be because they have children with additional needs or due to other aspects where life hasn't quite 'gone to plan.'. My cards are hand written and my aim is to word things in a way that is suitable for use with children with additional needs e.g. ' I used the potty today' instead of 'I used the potty for the first time' (just because it's happened once doesn't mean it's going to be a regular thing!). You can find out more on my Instagram page under @just_a_stayathome_mum I hope you enjoy them.
