My third son was born two weeks before Christmas. If I could give a young woman any piece of advice it would be to avoid that scenario if possible.
One week before that Christmas, my kindergartner came down with strep throat. I succumbed to it next, and then the baby, not to be left out, promptly contracted some sort of eye infection. What my three year old did during that time remains a mystery. But it probably involved binge watching the Wiggles and taking full advantage of my weakness by asking me to deliver snacks to him on the sofa. Which I'm sure I did. It was a foreshadowing of his current Uber Eats obsession.
On a phone that was actually attached to the kitchen wall, swaying the baby back and forth one morning, I carried on a fairly intelligent conversation with the pediatrician. Until he asked for my phone number, at which point I fell silent. I could not recall one digit of it. The section of my brain responsible for storing that piece of information had just stopped firing, probably due to a combination of sleep deprivation and Wiggles' songs on repeat. I tried explaining that to him, but it was obvious he didn't get it.
Babies are beautiful. God makes them that way on purpose so that when we are reduced to exhausted, forgetful night nurses, we can still gaze on them with adoration. Even through our own tears.
This is why we've put together a care package for new and expecting moms. Because we get it. We remember the long nights and early mornings that run together. We've rocked fussy babies through the night while it seemed the entire rest of the world got to sleep. We know how they pour every bit of themselves into making and caring for tiny humans. The work they do is invisible to the world, and that's what makes it beautiful.
So we celebrate them. And we want to send them truffles.
To all the new and expecting moms: We hope that you will find some pockets of time to nurture you. In this season of life, take extra care to fill your own tank. Consider this time pure joy, my sisters, for your perseverance will certainly pay off. But know that we understand the many trials you face. And while you fill those tiny humans up with love, we pray that you will be filled as well.
Many blessings to you and your tiny humans,
jen