Thursday, May 31, 2012

mothercare 25 Years Of Parenting

I was just chatting and giggling over some jokes with one of my mummy-friend. We were talking about how we mothers have turned out to be superwoman; we multitask, we still change diapers and wash milk bottles when we are sick, we can survive with waking up 2-3 times a night to attend to hungry cries, wake up before sun rise to sort out kids before we start our daily schedule and not sleep until everyone else is in bed, and the list goes on... These are some of the 'highlights', when talk to any mother on earth, will share the same sentiment. We mothers can do anything, and go any distance for our child/children.

When talk to any 'superwoman' mothers about where to go when preparing for a baby's arrival or to get sound advice on products for clueless first-time-mummies, uttering the word 'Mothercare' will more often than not give some kind of assurance and that we can always count on getting almost everything a newborn baby will need in this very established store.

For Mothercare to come to this stage, I believe took them many years of listening, empathizing and  understanding all of us mother's needs when it comes to childcare and providing the best for our kids. This, I have to take my hat off to these people behind Mothercare.

My very first encounter with the brand was when my little sister was born (we are almost 10 years apart), I remember my mother spent HOURS in this baby shop, browsing and looking at these little clothings. Then, I thought to myself, how can one spend so many hours just looking at baby clothes. 25 years later, I am just like my mother. Talk about the Circle of Life. Coincidentally, yes it was 25 years ago! That says a lot about this brand and its heritage in a mother's life. Be it 25 years ago or 25 years after.

Today, I am proud to say that I spend HOURS in this shop, just looking at every item (from clothing, baby paraphernalia, to toys) which I will look and screen through thoroughly before I purchase them for my kids.

Having 2 kids have definitely made me a very fussy and protective mother. When Ethan (my first son was born), I went looking for every good and recommended educational toy I could find. And living in a borderless world of Amazon and eBay.com, I went hunting. Hunting for the best educational toy my child. Mind you, hunting didn't take a day or two. I took me months. To my surprise after looking all over and nearly half the world, I find myself going back to Mothercare at the end of the day. So, here's a tip, if you are just like me, living in a borderless world and wanting to look for the best for your kids, you can really save your time and head on to the nearest Mothercare outlet.

I also must give credit to the effort the team in Mothercare Malaysia for bringing in more toys, and not just any toys but toys made by responsible manufacturers who are close and passionate to a child's development.

I particularly am fond of ELC and Melissa and Doug's educational toys. I find almost all the ELC toys offered are carefully studied before they are manufactured. One very good example I can share with you; you will never find any sort of violent-influenced toys under the ELC family of toys. Melissa and Doug lovingly makes the prettiest toys, especially their wooden selection. Read about their history and you will too agree with me why they are one of the best toys makers in the world. My Melissa and Doug wooden sets have survived almost 4 years of trashing, throwing, being chewed, licked and fought-over, they still work and are still serving their purpose for my children's learning path.

Mothercare's line of clothings, oh my! I bet none can disagree with me that should you want to buy the most comfortable cotton clothing with style and statement for your kids (infant or toddler), the Mothercare children clothings will never fail you. I am really particular when it comes to my children's clothing. I am extremely impressed with the quality Mothercare delivers. The buttons on the pants never come off, the zippers never get stuck, the colours hardly fades, the elasticity of the cotton pants never become loose and most of all, the design is more often than not quite classic and evergreen. Well, I have to also admit, the price label is not something where one can buy in bulk, but it is indeed value for money, if you think about it. I really had fun dressing my son when he was 1 with little man's clothes.


Ethan in Mothercare stripe shirt and adjustable-waist army pants.
Everyone loved his army pants. I had strangers coming up to me asking me where I got his pants from!

I am indeed honored and proud to be able to celebrate Mothercare's 25th year here. This will be a milestone and a story I can tell my children, perhaps later when they become parents or 'superwoman' mother in their own ways that their mother and their mother's mother were proud advocates of Mothercare. I believe Mothercare will continue to strive for the best for our children, and our children's children.