*3.5. The Blessings of Bonding and Snuggles*

Participants noted how the experience of COVID-19 created time for their family to bond and learn about each other. "I found it great to bond as a family. I've really learned what works and doesn't work for us". This participant believed that this period facilitated greater understanding of their family dynamics and individual roles. Time and space had been created so that they could figure out family strategies that worked and that did not work for them, without interference, judgement, or input from others.

COVID-19 was also a time for the enjoyment of the simple pleasures of having a new baby that many times can often be overlooked in the attempt to be "super moms". For example, another participant recognized that although following the requirements to stay at home was "extremely hard" it was also enjoyable, noting that she has "been loving all of the one-on-one time with my son, the snuggles, and the fact that there have been limited distractions". During isolation, distractions from others was limited and in this less hectic space, some participants were also able to find time to touch, bond, and snuggle more than they would have otherwise. They were able to experience the blessing of snuggles and connections with their babies even within the difficult times of the pandemic. Snuggling, touching, holding, kissing, and hugging are all noted to be deeply involved with bonding and mothers are told through social discourse that such bonding is critical to experience as a 'good mother' [38].

However, the social construction of mothering and parenting in Western societies often produce knowledge and competing discourses about how to hold, touch, and be with one's newborn, especially in public spaces amid the distractions of daily life and other people. Being out in public can interfere with the way parents interact with their newborn. Often within public spaces, certain types of bonding and touching are positioned as too intimate and inappropriate for others. This can create experiences of tension for some mothers as they try to bond with their babies in publicly appropriate ways [39]. For example, as previously described, it has been noted that some mothers experience feelings of embarrassment while breastfeeding in public places [37]. Parents continue to struggle with these competing discourses when making decisions about how to interact and bond with their babies and figure out what is right for themselves and their babies. Participants, however, found that during COVID-19 they were able to better navigate these competing discourses to experience intimate bonding with their babies. As highlighted, in the previous quote, the mother's focus on the joy of snuggling is not just a simple act; her emotional connection and her desire to bond in the best way for her baby was evident in her experience. This demonstrated the participant's value of shared, dedicated, and intimate time with her baby, physical connection and bonding, and respect for the sacred space that is shared

between parent and baby. In their bonding, participants challenged public norms of distancing, as well as mainstream judgements and 'distractions'. Such participants enacted their own agency and chose to enjoy their family space during COVID-19 for important snuggling.
