This is Kylie (35), originally from Australia. She lives in Amsterdam with her Dutch husband and daughter Fynn (10 months). She’s a freelance candy artist/media workshop leader for children. She is a big cinemum fan and one of our cinemum hostesses in Amsterdam. But why? She’ll tell you herself:
“The cinemum concept was first brought to my attention by a flyer in
the waiting room of my midwives office. I knew instantly, even before
Fynn was born, that this was something that I wanted attend. I had
heard about the concept from friends in Australia and was excited that
it was possible here in Amsterdam. …I think it is wonderful to have the opportunity to be able to do such things with your baby. As a young family my partner and I don’t want to have to arrange a baby sitter every time we want to do something nice. It is a real treat to be able to do things with your children. When going to a cinemum session it is very comforting to be in the company of other mums and dads who know exactly what it is like if your baby gets a little restless in a public space. There is a feeling of solidarity as you bounce around the cinema or walk in and out to warm a bottle or change your babies nappy.
After a few cinemum sessions I went back to the cinemum site to read a bit more about the organisation and saw that they were looking for host/ess volunteers. The position required you to be at the cinema half an hour before the film commences to show the mums and dads the cinemum facilities, change tables, bottle warmer, etc and to help them get settled. As a host/ess you can then stick around to watch the film. What a deal I thought! So I applied immediately. Not only is it great to be able to see all the latest films with my baby, I also love to talk to the other parents and see their enthusiasm for the concept. It sounds funny, but there a sense of liberation that you feel among the young parents. They are out, they are active and they are with their babies.”
