Firstly, this is not about gender. A woman can create a fathering space and a man can create a mothering space. I do think the terms are helpful though to create an image in your mind. Let's think about gorillas for example (on the course we watched a video about gorillas); the females offer a warm, nurturing, safe place with the opportunity for gentle movement and the males give their offspring the opportunity to explore, play and experience bigger movements. 

A mothering space is a safe womb like space where children (and adults) feel physically and emotionally safe. Think about the womb...what words come up for you? Perhaps words like warm, dark, familiar, safe, small, cosy, needs are met, foetal position, floating etc. Next think about a parent taking a child to the park to play - perhaps you might consider words like fun, play, excitement, exploration, jumping, climbing etc. This is the fathering space. 

As humans we need opportunities in our life to explore and play but also to be regulate and recharge. I invite you to think about your home and/or child's school - are there opportunities for both? A mothering space could be a bath with low lighting, gentle music or quiet and nice smells or it could be a den with a beanbag, fairy lights and a soft blanket. Fathering spaces have the sensory equipment I often talk about - therapy balls, swings, trampolines etc. I suspect most of us have lots of fathering spaces but I wonder if we have enough womb-like spaces for our children to recharge? I know that I don't and I plan to invest in a nice big beanbag. Beanbags can create that womb-like feel, with deep pressure, opportunity for gentle movement and they encourage the body to flex like in the womb. Another idea is this body pillow that I recently bought for my son's bed and he absolutely loves it.

If you have any ideas for creating a womb-like space, please do share. 

Hanna

If you would like my support for your child and family, I am taking bookings for Sensory Success in 2024 - please get in touch to discuss.