Thanks to Pampers for sponsoring today's post and encouraging me to share my #MothersPromise. All opinions are my own!
It's take a village. Ever since taking our Bradley Method birth class, I've been constantly reminded of how many people it takes to raise a baby. There's no reason for new parents to struggle and be overwhelmed. It's okay to ask for help but even more than that, if you know someone having a baby, I truly believe the biggest blessing you can give them is help.
Today I've teamed up with Pampers to share my?#MothersPromise. My promise to Greyson as his mama is to always be there for other mamas. I promise to be a part of the village it takes to raise a baby. I promise to love and support new mothers during their first weeks postpartum by bringing a meal over or cleaning their home. I promise to provide an example to my children of what hospitality looks like and how to love on others during times of change.
When we had Greyson, we were lucky enough to be living with my parents which meant we didn't need to worry about housework or cleaning. I've told my mom over and over how much of a blessing that was to us to not have to worry about those things in the first few weeks (and months!) of having a new little one in the house. The thing is though, no new mom should have to stress about putting food on the table or keeping the house clean. And why not??It takes a village.
One of my absolute favorite things has become serving a meal to someone during a time of need. It could be a family that has a kid having surgery, or someone battling an illness or a new mom adjusting to having two kids. I love being able to bless these families with a meal for the evening. An evening where mom doesn't have to think of what to cook and dad doesn't have to do any dishes!
I think a lot of people shy away from bringing a meal to a new mom because they don't know what to bring. There's a running joke among our birth class that people always bring something with red sauce. It's easy and people are sure to like it. But, when people are getting multiple meals in the first few weeks, bringing a red sauce dish might not be ideal. So what can you serve instead?
This homemade broccoli macaroni and cheese is one of my absolute favorite meals to make for us or to take to a friend. I love it because it's easy to make but has that homemade flair plus everyone loves comfort food! I always bring the meal separated into different containers, one with the mac and cheese, one with broccoli and one with the chicken, in case someone doesn't want one of the toppings or there are little ones who don't like green treetops ;). I like to bring bread too that can be warmed up and served with dinner or saved for another meal.
If you?are visiting a newly postpartum mom, here are a few tips for your visit:
+ Bring meals in disposable containers
This is key to making bringing a meal stress-free for new parents. They shouldn't have to worry about washing and returning your dish to you! So don't even add that into the mix, buy some disposable cake pans that you can bring the dish in. You can even double the batch so there's one to freeze, too.
+ Bring something for breakfast
This is something people often forget. It's a nice little treat to bring something small for breakfast like muffins or scones. Or even a bag of coffee because new moms NEED their coffee.
+ Bring something for baby
Diapers, swaddle blankets, small age appropriate toys or books are perfect! I always love bringing a little onesie or romper in a bit of a larger size, too. When buying diapers, don't always buy newborn or size 1 as babies grow out of those FAST! Consider bringing a box of size 2 or 3 instead. Always provide a gift receipt especially for clothes and diapers.
+Be mindful of the time
Always, ALWAYS be sure to check with the mom about what time is best to come over. Sometimes it'll be right before dinner, so be mindful of how long you stay to chat. I know, you'll want to hear the birth story and stare at the squishy newborn but moms can get overwhelms always having someone in their house. Plus, breastfeeding moms may not be comfortable nursing around other people yet.
+Don't ask to hold the baby
Look, this may be controversial here but new mamas need to snuggle their babies. If they want someone to hold their baby, they will ask if you want to, but don't ask if you can. A new mom will feel guilty saying no and will let you hold the baby, when they really want you to just do their dishes so?they can hold their baby. Trust me, it's just for the newborn phase and you can hold the baby later on during a visit.
After using a?lot of diapers (babies need a lot of them, if you didn't know), Pampers have definitely become my favorite name brand diaper. Now that Greyson has grown into a bigger size, I have some Pampers diapers in smaller sizes that I'm able to share with new babies being born.
I never thought there was a huge difference in diapers and was just happy to have a lot stashed from baby showers, but after using some other brands, I truly always choose Pampers when I can! These Pampers Premium Care (available at Walmart and Walmart.com) diapers are high quality, hypoallergenic diapers that have my favorite wetness indicator line! They're great at night too and Greyson can go an entire night without needing to have a diaper change which is awesome.
If you know?a couple that is expecting or just had a baby, I hope these tips will help you to feel encouraged and able to bless them with a meal! Remember,?it takes a village! Don't forget to grab the recipe for the Broccoli and Chicken Baked Macaroni and Cheese here.
What is your #MothersPromise and how will you share it?
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