A friend’s daughter just had her third baby last week. Taking care of a newborn is always hard work, but adding two older children to the mix is a serious juggling act. Diapers must be changed, homework must be done, and lunches must be made.
On top of this, a lot of visitors came to see the baby, which compelled my friend’s daughter to feel like she needed to entertain. She’d have to make sure she had snacks and beverages on hand to serve any guest who came by. Naturally, this put more pressure on her.
Luckily, one friend had a different idea. The woman brought a grocery bag full of ready-to-heat casseroles and desserts for the family, plus some snacks for the older children. She also included some pre-made lunch meals and yogurts for the kids to take to school, saving their harried mom the hassle of getting up early to make sandwiches.
What a great idea! As nice as a plush stuffed animal or adorable onesie can be, sometimes the best gifts you can give are a little outside of the box. A new mom can do a lot with ready-to-eat meals and other groceries. Another close friend offered to drive her older children to school, or take them out for a trip to the zoo. My friend said that these generous gifts of time really helped her daughter catch her breath and get back to normal.
That might be something to think about the next time you’ve got a new baby to celebrate.