Alana & Marlon

Babies! was incredibly valuable for our family in ways that I never expected and that have unfolded over time for my now four-year-old son. When we attended class it was wonderful to be given the tools to sit in the wonder of what he was doing, to recognize the miraculous natural development that was occurring in such subtle ways, and to support this in a manner that was led by him instead of me. As the parent of an infant it gave me the comfort and permission to trust that he knew what he needed developmentally and that my role was to interpret and support. As he has grown I have been impressed by the self-containment that he possesses. He is comfortable and confident in a way that I believe comes from being supported and not pushed.Now that he is four and we are navigating another big period of expectation with the beginning of school, I am especially aware of how much of what I learned from Amy and Nisha has informed my thinking. Just as he rolled, sat and walked so naturally at the point when he was ready, he will write, count and read. He doesn’t need my push, I have been given the knowledge and permission to trust his abilities and to honor his timing. This has been an important counterpoint to the predominant cultural message that values acceleration and the early attainment of milestones at the expense of skipping over some very important and foundational steps. The understanding that I gained in Babies! has been incredibly valuable to me and one of the things that has informed the way I parent the most. Thank you, Amy & Nisha!