Supporting The Small Society.
Being on maternity leave in lockdown I found I needed a focus and after redecorating the kids bedrooms and taking up embroidery (!) I turned my attention to something I could do…
Meet Jody Collins. The mum behind Mondo and Minikin.
Autumn Wild PhotographyTell us about your new project ‘Mondo and Minikin’. What is it and what inspired you to create it?
Mondo & Minikin is my little passion project. Essentially it's a ‘what’s happening’ for babies, bumps and toddlers in South London with a bit of added love for SE19. I celebrate and shout about all the wonderful things going on for small people such as classes and sessions but also kid friendly cafes, hang outs and activities. I lovingly curate and research the listings and my sons are very willing guinea pigs! I offer personal, honest recommendations packaged prettily with captions that don’t take themselves too seriously!
I started this little venture in lockdown when my youngest was 4 months old. Being on maternity leave in lockdown I found I needed a focus and after redecorating the kids bedrooms and taking up embroidery (!) I turned my attention to something I could do. I’d always toyed with the idea of creating a local directory for parents and carers but never had the headspace or time when I was working. It was my husband who ended up pushing me to do it and said ‘what have you got to lose!?
I knew I wanted to promote the brilliant folk who tirelessly work to entertain our small ones - they are the people who help us make memories and deserve to be supported. In most cases these people are parents themselves navigating running a small business with little to no marketing budgets and tiny people biting at their ankles! Parents do not have time to scour the internet looking for ‘things to do’ so I put in the hard-work so they don’t have to!
My aim for Mondo & Minikin is to continue growing our following and finding fabulous small businesses and suppliers to collaborate with. If we all work hard to raise each other up everyone wins.
Interesting name ‘Mondo & Minikin’, what does it mean?
Unsurprisingly, I get asked that question quite a bit! The definition of ‘minikin' means ‘a small person or thing' and I like the word as that is what our children are to us - our mini kin. And Mondo means ’striking, remarkable or ‘large'. So together it means Remarkable Large Small People! And that is what they are. Huge personalities in tiny little bodies who are utterly remarkable!
If we all work hard to raise each other up everyone wins.
You write ‘Join The Small Society’ on your Instagram posts, tell us more about this.
This venture for me has been unbelievably rewarding. I’ve gotten to know the people behind the businesses and brands - I know their children’s names and understand the challenges they have faced. I want them to succeed because they are the people helping to grow and develop the next generation. As such I feel like I have created this little network (which in truth was already there) and I am inviting parents and carers to Join the Small Society and support too.
Tell us about your mum journey, how was your experience having your second baby during lockdown? Did you find a silver lining?
One word – tough! At 37 weeks pregnant Boris told the nation to ‘stay home’ and like the rest of the world I wasn’t entirely prepared for what was coming. All of a sudden I was cut off from friends and family. I had less contact with the midwives and health visitors and in addition there was no nursery or childcare available for our older son! Not the most zen state to be in weeks away from childbirth. I was incredibly anxious leading up to my planned c-section, I knew that my husband could only be with me for a limited time and that I had to spend 2 nights alone in the hospital with the new baby.
Autumn Wild PhotographyMy silver lining was undoubtedly my toddler and husband. I couldn’t wallow and get lost in a sea of anxiety I had to be mummy and for that I am eternally grateful. I dedicated the last few weeks of my pregnancy in lockdown to spending quality time with him and we threw ourselves into crafting with gusto! Every night my husband and I would do a guided meditation to try and find some calm and centre our thoughts.
So far, what's been the biggest challenge of having two small children and how do you cope with the motherhood challenges?
I genuinely love it. It’s so wonderful having a tiny one again and I am finding that I am enjoying it so much more the second time around. I love watching the special bond develop between my boys and how the eldest behaves towards the baby when I am not looking!
I think the biggest challenge is the adjusting family dynamic and making sure that I give them both the time and attention they need. I found my toddler was being more defiant and pushing boundaries in the early days of his brother arriving and it's tricky to manage as you don’t want to be seen to be constantly disciplining the toddler and only praising the baby. So on days that my toddler is at nursery are the days my husband and I go into full gush mode on the baby and when the toddler is home I make sure to dedicate time to him away from the baby and menial jobs. The washing can always wait!
Personally I find laughter is a brilliant tonic and thankfully my husband is great at helping me find the humour in almost every circumstance. That said, there are times when there is no finding the funny side of things and in those moments I take a long walk, listen to a podcast or speak to a friend.
Finally, do you have any advice for new mums and mums to be in these particularly strange times?
Remember ‘it’ will pass and by ‘it’ I mean everything. The sleep deprivation, colic, fussy eating, tantrums and so on. And it does pass and you do forget so try and enjoy it for what it is and take pleasure in the small things even on the tough days. You will miss it when they are moody teenagers!
About Jody.
Jody is a Television Production Executive, Creator of Mondo & Minikin, a professional gin drinker and proud Crystal Palace Dweller.
