Category: Self-Care

Elizabeth

When Mom Takes a Selfie

Self-Care

Do you ever look in the mirror and not recognize yourself? The other day I took a selfie and didn’t recognize myself. I mean, of course it was me, but looking at my captured face all still and ready to be studied, it didn’t match what I think of myself as looking like.

I was having a conversation once about “the best time of your life.” My companion and I came to the conclusion that we each hoped that every decade of our lives will become “the best years of my life,” only to be replaced by the next decade….

Elizabeth

The Second Post about Miscarriage

Self-Care

October is, among other things, “pregnancy and infant loss awareness month.” I couldn’t find the right words in time to post during October, but I haven’t been able to find the right words to post about anything else since then, either. I started or worked on at least 4 google docs that might materialize into blog posts someday, over the past few weeks, but they felt fake, while I feel like this.

I think the only way to spread true awareness is for women who have been through it to share their firsthand experiences, to let those who *haven’t* have a look at what it’s like. To give them something to work with in the empathy department. It’s hard to walk beside a friend through a storm one has not weathered herself.

Here is a peek into my storm….

Elizabeth

Okay, just one thing about toilet paper.

Self-Care

This Thursday was the worst day for me, so far, of The Pandemic.

Aside from the pandemic and everything that goes with it, Cecily is in a weird place with her naps, where I’m lucky to get one “real” nap (where she’s asleep in her crib rather than on me/while nursing, for more than half an hour) per day. The rest of the day, she cries if I put her down, and if she manages to console herself after that offense, she cries if I leave her sight. I thought Miryam was a “mama’s girl.” Not like this! So…

Elizabeth

Use Your Village

Self-Care

This month, I have taken dinner to two families who have recently welcomed new babies. I love bringing meals to people who need them. It’s a perfect outlet for my charism for hospitality. I didn’t discover my love for cooking for other people until after I had my first baby and got to experience how helpful it was when other people brought us food. It was like a light turned on. What an easy way to “love your neighbor,” for me, who loves baking, likes cooking, and loves babies (the most frequent reason I’m signing up on a Meal Train).

Elizabeth

A Literal Walk in the Park

Self-Care

One morning, we decided to take a walk to the park near our house. It’s not quite one mile to the playground, so it’s decent low-intensity exercise for Justin and me, and then we get a break while the kids play before heading back home.

This morning I packed peanut-butter-and-nutella sandwiches for the kids and me, managed to get everyone’s teeth brushed, shoes and jackets on, and Cecily’s necessities packed—and off we went.

To enhance the exercise component of the walk, we often go all the way to the river to take a look, then…

Elizabeth

Go to Bed Early

Self-Care

What usually happens is I say, “I should go to bed early,” but then I creep on Facebook for 30 more minutes, finish up six or seven odd jobs around the house, and/or think of a few new texts I need to send. Now this evening I switched the laundry and started the dishwasher before jumping in the shower and then cozying myself into the bed, but I did go straight to those designated tasks after laying baby girl in her bed, so that, much to my satisfaction, all the kids were asleep by 7:30, and I was in my bed, too, at 8:15. The last light wasn’t turned off yet, but my phone was. Postpartum insomnia could interfere, but if it doesn’t…

Elizabeth

The Post about Miscarriage

Self-Care

(Not to worry anyone…current pregnancy is still healthy!)

Last week, while talking with a friend, the weird taboo around miscarriage came up. People just don’t talk about it, even though it’s so common. I was once in a room with ten women when the subject came up. Nine of us were still in the midst of toddlers/babies/more pregnancies. Someone asked, “How many of us have had at least one miscarriage?” Eight of us raised our hands. What?!

My first miscarriage was quite recent when the show of hands happened. I was shocked by our percentage…

Elizabeth

I’ll take my coffee standing up.

Self-Care

Like the Italians—and the seasoned or well-read tourists—in Italy, I’ve found it’s simply more economical.

This morning, after everyone had had breakfast and was dressed, I made myself a cup of decaf coffee in the Keurig—nothing fancy, although there was a bit of heavy cream left to use instead of half and half. Hoping full tummies would help the kids stay occupied for a while without me, I sat down on the couch, coffee in hand, and opened my breviary to the morning prayers for today. I made it a few sips of hot coffee and one psalm in before being interrupted…

Elizabeth

Advent Self-Care

Self-Care

This afternoon, my kids are snuggled up in their beds, with their daddy home to keep them safe, while I am in a random chair at the closest local coffee shop we’ve found, sipping water. (I finished my chai latte 15 minutes ago.) The playlist here is a combination of Christmas music and the Eagles. I’m working on a homemade gift for my sister. I finished a podcast episode a few minutes ago. I can hear tidbits of conversation from the other coffee drinkers and the baristas. The windows are oriented just right, here, for plenty of non-direct sunlight…