What's with the Dandelions, Sandy?

∞ Dandelions, what’s the story with the Danelions Sandy? My Dad asked me the other day. 

IG Sandy Doula

∞ This might seem like a regular run of the mill question from my Dad around my logo design and brand representation for Sandy Connolly Doula.  However, it’s not. There’s much more to it as a question than its face value! My parent’s business was a very successful Greengrocer turned Florist in Dublin which they sold some 15 years ago.  This, I suppose, means I have been exposed to some of the most beautiful flowers that can be grown commercially. And not only have I been exposed to them, I’m pretty handy at giving them their full Latin names even all these years later.  My Mom, in her attention to detail, not only priced up the flowers in their vases in the shop with their common name she also had us label them with their full Latin name, and incorrect spelling was not tolerated. I’m pretty nifty with a few flower stems too.  Moreover, I learned so many of my life and business skills through my days working with my parents in their shop as a teenager, and at home around our kitchen table after the shutters were pulled down. I was only talking about my days, my very very early mornings, running around in the Fruit Markets in Smithfield as a small girl about Juno’s age now loving the hustle and bustle of it all last weekend at a party.  You’ve not seen anything in life until you’ve seen the King of The Strawberries Mickey Mack run an auction up on his box in Smithfield at 5am! Or the sight of the Dutch flower vans unloading and getting to watch all the flower shop owners going bananas wanting to secure that something extra special for their vases that day. 

∞ The Dandelion for me is a really special flower, and one of my favourite, not least for its stunning visual and architectural beauty.  Moreover I love Dandelions for what they represent, and for how that representation directly correlates to what I do as a postpartum and bereavement doula, what I represent and what I stand for.  

∞ Did you know Dandelions take root and grow in the most difficult and adverse conditions? Next time you’re out and about keep an eye to where there are groups of Dandelions, or even that one single Dandelion flower in bloom.  They are in some of the most obscure, rough adverse locations.  

∞ When I think of Dandelions I smile. I think of sunny days, perseverance, blowing dandelion wishes in my childhood.  Their yellow flower stands tall looking up to the sunshine; it evokes the energy of the sunshine and the power of positivity, the importance of nature in our nurturing our minds, our bodies and our spirits.

∞ The dandelion can not only survive but thrives in difficult conditions; people say the flower symbolises the ability to rise above life’s challenges.  Isn’t that beautiful, that the dandelion is a symbol of fighting through the challenges of life and emerging thriving on the other side. The Dandelion flower’s message is do not give up hope.   The dandelion to me says dream, live and wander, wish for the good things the good days; they will come, eventually.

∞ As a postpartum and bereavement doula my role is to hold the hands of families as they navigate their transition and adjustment.  I am there to support the families I work with through whatever circumstances they face today, to hold space for them, their wishes and their dreams.  By supporting families to make informed choices with up to date evidence based information, by providing families with compassionate non-judgemental support my goal is that these families will be empowered to make the right choices for them, and that they, like the dandelion will emerge thriving on the other side.  

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∞ Be Brave.  Channel Your Dandelion.

If you would like to get in touch with me to discuss how I support you in your adjustment to parenthood, or in loss, please do get in touch. You can send me an email to sandyconnonny@gmail.com or call me on 086 0438642.

❣ Be well. Sandy x