They say it takes a village but what do you do if said village is in lockdown? And every other village after that is too?
Three weeks ago today I gave birth to my daughter, Kitty. She arrived on the brink of the Covid-19 lockdown which happened just over a week later.
Pre-quarantine and post-birth we saw a small handful of the usual suspects (parents, in-laws, siblings and their respective others). Over the next few days, a recipe of hormones and an overloading force-fed stream of corona-loaded-information, which was coming at me faster than the milky spew my daughter liked to shower me with, and you’ve got one stressed out mama. Despite the virus-dominating conversations during those precious sleep deprived days, I am so thankful for the time (albeit short) we had to introduce Kitty to her doting extended family – in person.
Long nights, blurry days and unwashed hair made the concept of staying home easy, I simply struggle with the fact that everyone else has to do the same. Here’s where I’m reminded of the ‘silver linings’. The chance to ‘slow down’ and the lack of unannounced, overstaying visitors. But I was, and still am, desperate to show off the beautiful baby I’ve been brewing for the last nine months.
Musings:
FaceTime takes on a whole new level of appreciation.
Letterbox flowers make me ridiculously happy.
As do supermarket delivery slots.
And the smell of my baby’s neck.
The strength of motherhood continues to amaze me.
And lastly, for the mamas-to-be, I beg you, savour every second. This stage goes too quickly as it is, don’t wish away time, don’t think ahead to next year, your sweet bundle will only be this tiny for the tiniest of chapters. Let everyone else wish the time away but not you.
NOTE: I must add that I am hugely grateful. More grateful than I’ve ever felt. I’m grateful for the luxury of being able to quarantine in the first place. I’m grateful that my children are healthy. I’m grateful to share these treasured early baby days with their father at home, and more than anything I am grateful for the joy these babies bring me every single day, despite the circumstances.
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Inspiration/Image Credits: Caperberry’s own.
