After sharing my activities a few times whenever my family and I went to the park, I think it's time to dedicate a post to it.
Before becoming a mom, I was someone who preferred indoor activities like staying at home, visiting friends, or spending time at cafés. I wouldn't call myself an outdoorsy person.
Yet, becoming a mom changed everything. Still a homebody myself, but now, I want to give my baby as many outdoor experiences as possible, and one of the most accessible options for me is going to the park. Strangely enough, I’ve come to like it. No, love it.
A Whole New Perspective
It took motherhood to make me see it differently. A park, as a public space, should be a safe haven for people to gather, foster a sense of community, support children’s growth, or simply rest.
Now, I see parks as something society genuinely needs. They should be inclusive spaces for everyone. I realize how much public spaces like parks support me as a middle-class mother who doesn’t prioritize visiting exclusive (and often expensive) parks. I never imagined that a public park which developed and maintained by local authorities, could lead me to reflect on how the government supports its people.
For me, parks have become places to expose my baby to the community by showing him the diversity of people with different backgrounds, professions, ages, etc. They’re also my spaces to unwind, refresh my mind after days of house chores, read a few pages, and connect with nature through the trees, the morning breeze, or the sound of birds chirping. A truly well-spent morning.
One More Thing to Unlearn
There was a moment when I saw a mother with her newborn at the park. My first thought was, “Why would she bring her baby here? It’s not safe! The pollution, the smokers, the loud noise from sound systems, why?!”
Then, something snapped inside me. A different question arose:
Why can’t she?
Why can’t she visit a place that’s supposed to be inclusive for all?
Why should she worry about smokers in a space where they shouldn’t even be?
Why can’t a public park be her safe space to enjoy fresh air and sunlight with her baby?
At that moment, I realized I wasn’t being fair. That mother deserved to experience the joy of going out with her baby and enjoying the morning breeze.
But instead of questioning the systems and policies that allow these challenges to persist, it’s easier to blame individuals. It’s easier to judge someone as irresponsible or selfish rather than address the underlying issues that shape their choices.
Wow, this post got political, didn’t it? But then again, what isn’t political? Everything is.
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