Possibilities: Session 10

Creativity Fun Calm Peace Thoughtful Caring

It is the last group session of this series of ten two hourly meetings and there is an air of concentration as everyone is finishing off their journals, figures and story boxes.  One of the mums cannot be with us and we miss her gentle presence, so her journal is wrapped and given to be delivered to her home by the health visitor team.  We all had made very different little environs for our books and figures to sit within, and a swell of anxiety unfolds with the knowing that we won't be meeting next Monday.  So, we talk about the future, hopes and dreams and possibilities.  Each person gets a wishing-well butterfly tag, and we write positive words as a gift to each other. We are sad to finish the sessions, but there is talk too for some of the mums of returning to work, of others possibly meeting at the local cafe, to continue as others mothers have done from other MTMS sessions, meeting on a Tuesday afternoon at the local church cafe tea rooms.

Philippa Forsey, Project Manager, Creativity Works, together her colleague Ailsa, come and join in with the last session to review feedback.  The comments are so positive, and there is much laughter.   On a small coloured leaf we write our feelings to note how different we feel from when we first joined...Hugs and tears and laughter, moving forward, we talk about each of our individual books and journeys and share some words.

"HAPPY CONFIDENT AS A MUM ORGANISED STRESS FREE PEACEFUL LUCKY INSPIRED RELAXED MORE THOUGHTFUL HAPPIER CALM RESPECTFUL CONFIDENT IN WHAT I WANT FEELING MORE GROWN UP REMEMBERING TO FOLLOW MY INSTINCT MY BABY IS HAPPY AND HEALTHY AND THAT IS ALL THAT MATTERS MORE POSITIVE AND OPTIMISTIC NEED TO PAUSE REST RELAX ENJOY HAPPY END OF TUNNEL LIGHT EXCITED FUTURE BRIGHT BETTER GRATEFUL SETTLED RELAXED LESS UP AND DOWN HAVE AN OUTLET SUPPORTED MORE SECURE BETTER!"

"Inspirational...a true journey of re-discovery", she said.

For me as the facilitator, there is talk with Creativity Works about a potential Artist Residency to develop ideas and materials relating to the programme, and an opportunity for a new series of sessions too.  The sessions work because of the spirit of collaboration...so a big thank you to Judith & Sarah from the Health Visitors team, together with Children's Centre staff and creche team; the women really appreciated and acknowledged the support.   Thank you also to Paula Tew, Textile Artist, who came and took a series of images to document the women's unique artworks.