Resolving not to make any resolutions.

As 2010 draws to an end, I am resolving not to make any resolutions. I have spent too many years setting myself up to fail before the first 24 hours of the new year have even begun.  


I will not pay for a gym membership I will almost certainly never have the time to use.  I will not buy a journal that will remained unopened. I will not cancel my cable subscription. I will continue to spend too much time on Facebook, and I will not step on a set of scales unless a doctor asks me to. (I would however appreciate it if my daughter would resolve to sleep through the night - I'm pretty tired).

What I will be doing is reflecting on the year that has just past. I will marvel at the twinkle in my son's gorgeous brown eyes, his inquisitive spirit and eagerness to learn. I will reflect on my daughter's first steps, her rapidly expanding vocabulary and joyful exuberance.  I will smile at the memory of all the hugs, kisses and hands held. 

I will also be grateful for one more year of Bump.  Often when people find out that I am a small business owner they ask me tentatively, "how is it going?"  It is not news to anyone that the past 2 years have been hard on everyone.  It has effected us all.  We've all eaten more meals at home, we've returned to the art of family camping vacations, taken the subway more and cabs less, reconsidered the necessity of certain skin or hair care products, brought lunch to work in a brown bag rather than ordering in, and I'm certain that we have all felt a little more grateful for what we have.  

We have all also got a little more creative with our wardrobe.  We have combed sales racks and sample sales, repaired and resoled, rediscovered items long forgotten in storage, accessorized with passion, and we have all considered each purchase much more carefully before we make it.  

We never expected 2010 to be a huge year for Bump.  We expected our customers to delve through the wardrobes of recently pregnant friends and family.  We also expected our customers to stretch their previous wardrobes as far as possible. So we have been even more grateful than ever for every customer who has walked through our doors.  We know there are maternity alternatives, some less expensive and more convenient, so that people have chosen to come to Bump makes us feel very fortunate. 


Our business is not only a small one, but it is a family business and a business that is very personal to us. We bump (forgive the pun) into our customers on the subway, on the street, in the play ground, in restaurants and at our children's schools.  We feel unbelievably privileged to be part of an incredible, life changing journey.  We have got to know our customers children, partners, mothers, fathers, grandparents and friends.  We have given tissues for tears, pads for leaking boobs, a bathroom for bladders under pressure, curtains for a game of peek-a-boo, a comfortable chair for nursing, and space for diaper changes.


We love what we do and are so happy that we can continue doing it.  So wether you make resolutions or not, we wish everyone all the love, kisses and hugs 2011 can muster up, and thank you for your support, friendship and exceptional company.


Bump