It’s been a little while since I have updated this blog, but I have a good excuse (actually several of them). There was illness, work and writers block. But most importantly, there was a new nephew!
Eliot Arthur was born on March 12 and has been quite a distraction ever since.
As fun as it is to hold Eliot and gaze upon his loveliness, it was also very important to help out his parents. Supporting a new mother isn’t always the easiest job. Fortunately, there was this list that originated with Gloria Lemay which came in really handy. I think between my parents and myself, we hit everything on the list (except #8 of course).
1. Buy toilet paper, milk and beautiful whole grain bread.
2. Buy a new garbage can with a swing top lid and 6 pairs of black cotton underpants (women's size____).
3. Make a big supper salad with feta cheese, black Kalamata olives, toasted almonds, organic green crispy things and a nice homemade dressing on the side. Drop it off and leave right away. Or, buy frozen lasagna, garlic bread, a bag of salad, a big jug of juice, and maybe some cookies to have for dessert. Drop it off and leave right away.
4. Come over at about two in the afternoon, hold the baby while I have a hot shower, put me to bed with the baby and then fold all the piles of laundry that have been dumped on the couch, on beds or in the room corners. If there's no laundry to fold yet, do some.
5. Come over at l0 AM, and make me eggs, toast and a 1/2 grapefruit. Clean my fridge and throw out everything you are in doubt about. Don't ask me about anything; just use your best judgment.
6. Put a sign on my door saying "Dear Friends and Family, Mom and baby need extra rest right now. Please come back in 7 days but phone first. All donations of casserole dinners would be most welcome. Thank you for caring about this family."
7. Come over in your work clothes and vacuum and dust my house and then leave quietly. It's tiring for me to chat and have tea with visitors but it will renew my soul to get some rest knowing I will wake up to clean, organized space.
8. Take my older kids for a really fun-filled afternoon to a park, zoo or Science World and feed them healthy food.
9. Come over and give my husband a two-hour break so he can go to a coffee shop, pub, hockey rink or some other R&R that will delight him. Fold more laundry.
10. Make me a giant pot of vegetable soup and clean the kitchen completely afterwards. Take a big garbage bag and empty every trash basket in the house and reline with fresh bags.
Mother and baby are doing fine.
This sure beats running in place while watching cable news in a room that smells like socks.
