Mommy Maid

Since having my daughter, I've been toying with an idea. I'd like to become a personal assistant to new Mothers. They need that time to heal, and to bond with the new baby. To rest, and not worry about household chores, or the other child. If they are breastfeeding, it is nice to be able to just hang out in bed, and get use to being a human pacifier.

I had little to no help with either of my children. With baby K, I was in desperate need. I had her on Thursday, April 4th. My Mom came down that day to be with our older child so that my husband could be with me. I was released from the hospital on Saturday evening. Mom left Sunday morning, and my husband returned to work on Monday! Granted, Nick did come home and do his best to help. He cooked dinner and did the dishes, took care of Jman, and brought me anything I needed. For that, I will forever be grateful. 

During the day, I struggled. Big time. So much so, that it sent me in to a depression. I just felt like I couldn't get ANYTHING together. For those first few weeks, our son was acting out. Completely forgetting that he was potty trained, screaming mad, misbehaving, and generally just had a really bad attitude. That made it harder for me. I felt like I was constantly punishing him. No matter if we had a great coloring session that morning, or if I read him books for hours, at the end of the day, I felt like a terrible Mother. To both of them! I felt like I wasn't giving either of them the attention that they needed. Adding another child in the mix is an extreme balancing act. One that would be much easier for mothers, if they could get some help those first few weeks. Or at least...that is what I keep telling myself.

Before being discharged, our hospital requires you to take a "class". Basically you get brought into a room with your new baby, and a woman talks to you about the baby basics. She also gives tips on breastfeeding and helps you with any sort of problem you may be having. During this class (I swear I'll never forget this woman) she said that in some cultures, the women have 40 days and 40 nights. LMAO, right?!! Those days, she is to be pampered, and her one and only responsibility is to bond with her new baby. She said that people in America just don't value what women go through during pregnancy and child birth. We all think that women should just bounce back. I'm guilty of it myself. I tried to do too much too soon. 

I'd like to start some sort of program. I'm not sure what to call it, or how to execute it. My plan is to somehow network with some hospitals, and get signed up to help women who don't have any family around. I'll bring them food, clean their houses, let them take naps, take care of the other kids. Basically make it to where all the new mommy has to worry about is what hour to nap. PLUS- I'd get to snuggle a newborn!! How amazing would that be?? I would have gladly paid someone to come in and help me for a few weeks.

I'm going to stick with this plan, and hopefully, I will find the right resources to get there. I've said it here before, and I thoroughly, 110% agree... It takes a village to raise a child!