Dear colleagues and friends,
As summer transitions to autumn here in the northern hemisphere, the days are gradually shortening. At the WAIMH Central Office, we experienced a busy yet immensely rewarding summer in 2024. The highlight was the successful WAIMH Tampere Interim Congress, which welcomed 422 delegates from 36 countries. The theme, “Looking for the best care for infants, young children, and families,” was thoroughly explored through presentations addressing the diverse needs of children and families, including those affected by the extreme trauma of armed conflicts.
Tampere was the perfect city to host the WAIMH Interim Congress, especially given its connection to the Moomin Museum. The spirit of the Moomins provided an excellent theme for my welcome address. Finnish author Tove Jansson created the Moomin characters in her books from 1945 to 1977, aiming to craft a world of friendliness and warmth in contrast to the wartime reality she experienced in Finland. While the Moomin books were initially written for children, they contain deeper layers that resonate with adults. The characters represent different personalities or aspects of personality that we all exhibit in various situations. For us as infant mental health specialists, the Moomin stories offer profound insights.
The Moomins exemplify a loving family, with Mama Moomin and Papa Moomin as attentive caregivers to their son, Moomin Troll. These furry, round characters with big noses, short arms and legs, and little tails, live harmoniously with a variety of other creatures. Despite their differences, characters like the temperamental and independent Little My or the extremely pessimistic Muskrat are welcomed without question. In the Moomin family and community, everyone is accepted as they are, provided with food and safety, and treated according to their needs. Their commitment to caring for one another, despite their differences, makes them incredibly resilient. The stories showcase their ability to navigate significant changes, such as moving from Moomin Valley to a small island with a lighthouse, and even surviving natural disasters like floods and comets.
Just like in real life, the Moomin family members grow and help each other to grow. In one of the most touching stories, Mama Moomin heals the traumatized, invisible Ninny with a bit of grandma’s medicine and warm affection, allowing Ninny to finally express her anger when she mistakenly thinks Papa Moomin is about to push her beloved Mama into the sea. In another story, Moomin Troll helps Papa Moomin come to terms with uncertainty, while Mama Moomin learns the importance of self-care alongside caring for others. The temperamental, feisty, and fearless Little My encourages Moomin Troll to face the cold and frightening Groke, who then becomes warm herself and no one has to fear her anymore. The highly independent Snufkin, who detests responsibilities, finds himself caring for 24 orphans and realizes that forming attachments isn’t so bad after all. These stories of personal growth, born from experiences that are sometimes frightening, awkward, stressful, and unexpectedly warm and loving, resonate with many of us.
These are challenging times, with many concerning events unfolding around the world. Yet, we can all strive to embrace a bit of the Moomin spirit in our daily lives, gradually transforming our world into a more Moomin-like valley. Let’s support one another and remain resilient in facing our own challenges, whatever they may be.
With my warmest regards to you all,
Kaija
