6 January 2011

lunch

lunch

I didn't manage to eat lunch today. Lunch yesterday left a bit to be desired too... That magical time when the baby drops off to sleep. I pop her in the hammock, run to the kitchen to make lunch, pop a plate in front of the bigger owlets and tiny owlet stirs... maybe I have to be faster about it.

Today big owlet offered to make me lunch while the baby dream fed in my arms. She ran to the kitchen with enthusiasm and emerged five minutes later, carefully placing my lunch in front of me... on today's menu was mouldy, stale bread, spread with a tiny blob of peanut butter and served with a glass of milk. Cute huh? I thought so too until she charged me $5 for the effort! She was rather miffed when I refused to pay. We had an interesting discussion on food hygiene, family, generosity and brainstormed some other ways she might like to earn some money... But I still didn't get any lunch...

As mothers we often think of everyone else first. We spend so much time caring for others without expecting anything in return. Eventually they will recognise the love and effort that goes into nurturing them. They might even return the favour one day. Ultimately though, self nurture really is so important. Particularly when they are small and your love and attention are expected. If we don't make an effort for ourselves, who else will? I've been working on ways to fit a little self nurture into my day. I'm hatching a plan so that lunch tomorrow hits the spot :)

PS. I did get a bite to eat in the end. We went out and I had to pay for it, but at least it wasn't mouldy ;)

4 comments:

  1. Oh, I completely *get* what you're saying, Lauren. The result of not doing that for me was severe PND. Being kind to myself is one of my goals for 2011. I hope tomorrow's lunch is a lot more appealing ☺. J x

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  2. I know exactly what you mean, sometimes we put ourselves last even though if we dont look after ourselves then eventually we wont be much good for anyothers either! Im not sure if it is practical but putting a "lunchbox" in the fridge for yourself that you could even munch on while feeding bub off to sleep might be helpful, it would be ready waiting when you are.Its just getting time to put one in the fridge.

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  3. I KNOW exactly what you mean, Lauren! I think one of the best ways that message of self-care came home to me was when my husband said, "It's like the oxygen masks on a plane. If you don't put one on you first, then you can't take care of the small people."

    It really helped give me perspective years ago when I had PND, and still does!

    (I still would forget sometimes, and pack snacks and lunch for my little ones when we went out, but nothing for myself…it's so easy to forget when they are so small and needing so much! Now they're older, I'm all, Oxygen Mask for myself: CHECK! Hmm, I s'pose I should feed the others?!)

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  4. haha that is so funny, I love that she wanted to be paid for it!! Some nerve lol! Hope you get some lunch tomorrow, maybe little owlet will do a better job?

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