Please meet Thea Munch, a trained nurse and holistic body therapist & mentor. Thea is married to the love of her life, Oscar, and together they have a 1,5-year-old son, Pablo. Thea, Oscar & Pablo lives in Christianshavn in central Copenhagen with their dog, Mester. We sat down with Thea to hear her perspective on motherhood.
When do you feel most connected to your Pablo?
I suppose I feel very connected to him several times throughout the day. My son seeks close comfort very, very often - hugs and cuddles and kisses are all ways to re-establish connection for us. I think he leans in for a big hug at least once an hour. In those, I feel very connected to him.
How has becoming a mother changed how you see the world?
My world has become smaller, but the World has become bigger. I think this sums it up perfectly.
When do you feel most present as a mother?
I feel very present when we sit down for our meals together, whether it be breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Inspired by my own upbringing in Waldorf philosophy, our meals at home are sacred and deserve lots of nurturing, attention, and calm! It’s a place for exploring the food and tuning in to one another, so setting the table beautifully, lighting the candle, and eating our meals is a huge part of our daily rhythm.
When and where do you typically use a baby carrier?
I use a baby carrier when I walk our dog, especially on the morning walks. He’s a hunting breed in need of lots of excercise, so wearing a comfortable carrier for both me & baby is essential. I have carried my son in carriers from the day he was born! He loves it.
What has your son, Pablo, taught you so far?
I see the world in a completely different light since becoming his mother. My son needs me to make him feel safe, set boundaries on his behalf, and listen to his needs. If I manage to respect these three pillars, he thrives! In my experience, this translates to our lives as well, even as adults. Try it out - it’s life changing.
How do you balance freedom and closeness in your parenting?
Hard to say. I’m at peace knowing that his needs the first couple of years are mostly centered around me. I never really felt that urge to go out or sleep alone since I gave birth. Still, taking care of myself is essential - breathing deep, eating well, walking in nature, laughing with friends, and sleeping next to him are all things that fill my cup and essentially makes me feel balanced in motherhood.
What role does movement play in your family life?
Movement is a huge part of our daily life. Besides our dog walks several times a day, dancing is a non negotiable in our household. I love dancing, and I dance with our son every single day. I really hope this will teach him the joy of moving freely and be comfortable in his own body at the same time. For me, personally, nothing lifts my mood more than loud music and lots of dancing.
What part of your own childhood do you want to pass on?
Music! I grew up listening to 70’s, 80’s and 90’s music. I admire my parents for introducing me and my siblings to so much music from when we were babies. To this day, music is a constant in my life - I always turn on the music when we wake up and start preparing breakfast. My son loves it!
Who lifts you up?
My girlfriends lift me up in each their own way. I’m lucky to have few, but very close girlfriends. They’re all very different for one another, but they have one thing in common: Compassion. For this, and so much more, I admire them.
Thank you, Thea!
