Life as a New Mum in Launnie
You've blossomed into your role as a mother, spent valuable rest time in your baby bubble and now you feel ready to re-integrate into society. Where do you go?
Pram walks with other mums or friends are a lovely way to slowly move your body, debrief with other mums, make connections, and hopefully bubba will have a little nap. It is also such a valuable opportunity to build your village. If you meet at the Silo’s car park at the famous Riverbend playground (fabulous for when bubba’s a bit bigger) walk from here along seaport to Stillwater restaurant taking in the river, maybe try the skip App so when you arrive your coffee is ready to go. Roughly a 40 minute round trip. In the warmer months a juice from Juice Bar Fifty Five is a real treat.
Another great spot is a lap around the Inveresk precinct and along the north Esk River. Meet your walking buddy at the Inveresk carpark and grab your hot chai late from Blue Inc. (Side note; bring along a Keep cup with a sturdy top so as to not lose a drip going over those bumps - doesn’t matter how good the suspension is in that amazing pram!) Can get a little windy here but it’s still lovely.
Join your mums group via your child health nurse and definitely all swap numbers, make a Facebook page, whatever it is keep in touch. Book in a park play date, for example, the first Thursday of every month. Get yourself a water-proof-backed picnic blanket and meet your mum's group for a chat under a shady tree. Princess Square is fabulous, surrounded by Bread and Butter for the most delicious croissants on the go and a dreamy coffee from Princess Square Espresso. If you happen to go on a Thursday sometimes you'll catch a lady with a very strong accent feeding the pigeons from a massive bag of seed. Meal and a show! Local legends say that the French made fountain in the centre of the park was actually meant for Launceston in England in the 18th century but was accidentally sent to our Launnie. Shipping for the ornate fountain was too expensive to send back so we were able to keep this gorgeous European fountain. There's your history lesson for the day so go along and enjoy it.
The Launceston Harvest Market held every Saturday on Cimitiere Street is alive and well with you new mums, hot coffees, cakes and pastry, fresh flowers and local veggie stalls. It’s a real hustle and bustle along with live music and salsa dancing. Grab your fresh bunch of daffodils and then head over to the Launceston City Park, swing by the monkey enclosure, enjoy the cherry blossom in august and let your little ones watch the ducks.
Maybe you would like to do an activity or a class with your little one once a week. Baby Sensory at the Tailrace Centre is an evidence based program that enriches your little ones senses and a nice way to meet other mums who have babies the same age. Other options are swimming classes, music classes, there are even free book reading classes at the library that you can register for online. These are all great ways to build your village and meet other mums. Launceston Bodyfocus also runs a Mummas & Bubbas Reformer Post-Natal Course on a Thursday if you're looking for some specialty postpartum exercise.
Enjoy the fresh air, take in the blossom in spring, and build your village of mums so you can all support each other 🌸
Awesome images: www.launnie.com.au