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June 10, 2011

The Inner Thoughts of a Nursing Mother

Forgive me, I seem to be on a nursing kick with my posts here.  Now that I feel like I have a handle on this part of my life, I’ve been reflecting on what it’s meant to me, good and bad.   Part of me worries that, like with all other phases of life as a mother, now that I feel comfortable with our nursing routine, things are about to change.  In the meantime, here’s a little humor on what it is to nurse a baby.

 

A great benefit to nursing is the time it gives me to sit and think.  Rocking and holding Jacob offers me a couple of opportunities every day to slow down and, thanks to hormones released with milk, relax.  I often use this time to mentally write; many of my blog posts are started here, and my fiction work in progress is as “in progress” as it is because I have this time to work on it.

 

Although I try, I can’t always relax as much as I’d like.  Friends have confirmed that I am not alone in the crazy mile-a-minute thought process that we nursing mothers partake in during a just-before-naptime nursing session.  Crazy multi-tasker that I am, there are so many things I want to do once the little one is down and asleep.  My thought process goes something like this:

 

“Okay, so first I’ll go the bathroom.  That gives me just enough time to listen and make sure Jacob’s really asleep.  Then I’ll go to the kitchen and make lunch.  I’ll eat while I read some blogs and then I’ll start my post for today (which I’ve already drafted during an earlier nursing session).  Then I’ll work on that fiction piece I’ve been thinking about.  No, first, I’ll finish that editorial letter for the client.  I have another week, but best to take advantage of time whenever I have it.  Then—oh, right, I need to vacuum.  Hmm . . . and I need to do the laundry and take the recycling down.  I’ll do those things tonight, after John’s home and Jacob’s asleep.  Maybe I can vacuum once Jacob’s up from his nap.  Then I can use the time he’s sleeping to write and work.

 

“All right, so I’ll go to the bathroom, make lunch, read, blog, write, and then edit.  Wait a minute, I can’t do all that in forty minutes.  I’ll definitely do the first four, but maybe I’ll save some blogs for later, and just take notes for my own post.  I should get the notes down for my fiction, too, so I don’t lose it.  When is that editorial letter due again?  I finished the other project this week, and I think I have until next week for this one, but I really shouldn’t push it off.  I’ll do that during the next nap.  Unless I blog later . . . then I can edit now.  Yes, that’s a better option.

 

“Do I need to empty the dishwasher?  I can do that when Jacob’s up.  But I was going to vacuum, too, and we still need to get to the park.  It’s already after noon, but still hot.  So we’ll go to the park after the next nap.  Please God, let there be a next nap today!

 

“Is he asleep?  Yes, I think so.  Gently, gently, up we go.  Over to the crib, kisses, kisses.  I love you, I love you, I love you, little man.  And in.  Hands on his back gently, then slowly remove them.  Stand over him for a second.  Not a peep.  Fabulous.  A few slow steps away, then quick, quick, quick, out the door.

 

“Now what was I going to do again?”

  1. Jennifer L. says:

    This is so true. I am *still* nursing my 3.5 year old and I still have similar circles of thought when I am nursing her. At least you didn’t write about the other familiar scenario about when one lays the wee baby down and then they (gasp!) wake up! No, no, no, mommy has things to do! Of course, every day after I have created my meticulous list of getting everything done, I too stand up all bleary eyed, relaxed and not really in the mood for tackling that pile of laundry or the dishes in the sink! The good part about nursing is that, I fear, if I didn’t do, I would *never* sit down again during my waking hours. The mommy job is simply to go-go-go all day long to ever sit and gather a thought, or a string of consecutive thoughts. Ah, sitting down and snuggling is nice. Gaze at that baby, smell that baby, love that baby—it really goes to fast. Why not just have a sit and enjoy the time?! The dishes get done. The laundry will get folded (it hasn’t taken over our house yet, despite my planning to and then not folding it days).

    What a lovely post to read today. I’m looking forward to reading more!

    • Thanks, Jennifer! It’s so nice to know that my wild, crazy mind is not alone in its rambles. My roommate in college used to say “It always gets done. Has it ever not gotten done?” And she’s right! If it’s important enough, it will get done. If not, then who cares?!

  2. This made me laugh! My thought process is the same way. I plan a million things to do during naptime, but none of them fall through!

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