One of the greatest discoveries during the 3 short weeks since Mr. Yummy’s birth has been watching my child become a parent. She tells me that she wonders when the real parents of this baby boy will return for him. She reminds herself that he now belongs to her. All the responsibility. All the attention. All the laundry. All the snuggles.
Now that I have returned home, I am so grateful for cellphones that take pictures. I also get to “hear” of her own discoveries as she begins to develop that mystery we all know as “mother’s intuition,” such as . . .
1. She can hold and snuggle her baby whenever she wants to.
All the new baby websites say, “Get a schedule,” “If he has a clean diaper and has just eaten, let him cry it out if he gets fussy.” “Don’t spoil your baby by holding him all the time.” Seriously? He’s only 3 weeks old!
2. She can pick out his clothes.
She has realized that she better take advantage of this very small window of opportunity. Choosing your boy’s clothes is a treat. For one who has never been concerned about the weather, she now has to ask, “Will he be too hot?” “Will he get cold?” “Am I willing to let him wear this long enough to debate ‘ Is it worth it to try to clean it, or just throw it away?'” This is a question she will ask about a little boy’s clothing almost every day until he can do his own laundry.
3. She can eat pizza, but only if she has anti-gas drops for Mr. Yummy.
In our day, we had Mylecon drops that seemed to have been discovered by the smartest people on the planet. The stuff could cost $1,000 for every small bottle, and would’ve been worth every single dime. There are organic products that do the trick today, or so she has discovered.
4. When the baby is wrapped in a sleepy wrap, people are less likely to touch you or the baby.
This results in a less treacherous trip to Target or anywhere else that strangers feel compelled to reach for a woman’s chest.
5. A clean and tidy house is way over-rated.
Between feedings and snuggle-time and tummy-time, the only goals worth setting for a day is to brush your teeth, take a shower, and eat a bowl of cereal. And it’s OK if she needs all day to accomplish all 3.
6. It’s always a good time to read her bible.
Reading aloud is always soothing to baby and Mama…even the books of Ezekiel and Daniel.
May 1st has arrived and I have drank the Mimi KoolAid by joining a national prayer campaign, 21 Days of Prayer for Boys (http://www.themobsociety.com). My response to a merciful and generous God for a baby boy that will change the world. He has already changed ours.
1 Corinthians 15:51…”Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed.”
A friend e-mailed me a few years ago after she had her first baby. When she went back to work she realized her life had radically changed. Her stay-home mom had raised children, been (in her eyes) the perfect wife, hostess, room mom, etc. and had set the bar so high that this new mom like a failure when she came home exhausted and struggled to get the most simple things done. Her mother suggested she contact me since I had worked full time with two children, a husband, a house, and a busy life in a city 800 miles away from any family.
I don’t know that anything I wrote back to her made a different, but my advice to young mothers is this: When you receive a gift and unwrap it, you probably don’t jump up and throw the paper away before you open it, play with it, talk about it, and enjoy it. This child is a gift from God. Open it, play with it, talk about it, and enjoy it. When it is sleeping, take a quick nap. Then, if there is time, take a few minutes to throw away the wrapping paper. These years pass so quickly and one day you’ll have plenty of time to have a neat and tidy house. However, you’ll then have the right to choose to do something instead, like learn to make a quilt.
Debbie, you are SO right. You and I both know the “passing so quickly” statement personally. She’s doing great at not trying to be perfect and I am so glad. She is enjoying her baby, no matter what that looks like from the outside and her hubby is amazing. Thank you for sharing your heart.