Our MPower 2019 Highly Commended award winner for ‘Vision’ – Rebecca Palmer of Little Yoga Stars shares with us her Mother of Reinvention journey xx
How did you feel about yourself and your job before you became a mum?
Before I was a Mum I was a career girl. I’d just moved to a city legal firm and was commuting an hour each day to work. I was flighty and not really a serious bone in my body. I was planning my wedding and my main concern was whether we could have an owl ring bearer….. I had a well-paid job that I had worked hard to get and enjoyed the prestige it held. To be honest, being a civil litigation solicitor wasn’t my calling, I wanted a legal career that was more ‘people-based’ but how the market was I ended up specialising in an area that I wasn’t keen on.
What was the biggest lesson you learnt from becoming a mum?
When I became a mum I suddenly had all of this responsibility. I had someone dependent upon me whereas I had always been looked after by others. I suddenly became a responsible adult and my biggest lesson was being strong for someone else. My husband says I am the strongest person he knows and that is because I am a mum.
Why did you want to teach baby massage and yoga?
I wanted to teach baby massage and baby yoga because my son Sam was a colicky baby and learning baby massage with him, helped me so much to bond with him and help him with his wind. I wanted to share that with other parents.
What do you love about teaching? I love teaching because I get to share my passion with other parents and I love watching their bond flourish throughout the course. I’m still in touch with many of my clients and I love seeing those tiny babies that came to baby massage become bouncy toddlers full of love and energy.
What has been the biggest surprise?
My biggest surprise has been how much I have fallen in love with my job. I began my career as a baby massage teacher whilst my children were at home. Now my youngest begins school in September and it has driven me to go even further with my business. This isn’t a stop-gap to fill my time whilst my children are young, this is my career and I love it.
Do you have any regrets?
Regrets?? No, none whatsoever.
What are your plans for the future?
The future will see lots more baby massage and baby yoga classes but I am focusing on providing further colic support to parents. As a new mum, I have experienced what it feels like to be in colic hell with an inconsolable baby and the feeling of overwhelm and not getting much support from medical professionals. With the knowledge and experience that I have, I am expanding my business to cover colic consultancy so that I can help more families help their babies.
What’s your favourite song to play in classes?
My favourite song to play in classes is Mr Sun. I find parents tell me 12 months after attending classes that they still sing that song to their child and I love knowing that what we do in class is something which they can do for a long time afterwards.
Thank you for sharing your story and your vision with us Rebecca, we are all so proud of you! Love from the Blossom and Berry Team xx