As we enter the new year, we are thinking about beginnings and new little ones on Motherhood Mondays. This month I asked Jennie, Honig, who oversees Women's Care Ministry, to share about ways we can bless new moms in our body. Jennie coordinates meals for families as they bring home new babes (and after surgeries, during foster placements, loss of family members and a variety of other times families need extra help). While providing meals is one of the ways the Women's Ministry reaches out to bless these families, Jennie is sharing this week about some other easy ways we bless moms.
As a new momma brings home either her first or her fifth baby, a meal is always an amazing blessing. It’s simply one less thing to put brain power and energy into and more time to snuggle the new bundle. Any meal is a wonderful thing- you do not have to be a Michelin Star chef to bring joy and comfort! I know I personally go through phases of feeling “this is just too much to bring another meal right now” and I think that is okay. When making a meal seems overwhelming, the schedule doesn't work out or you just don't love to cook a meal, here are some other ideas to bless a new mom:
- Sometimes when a meal train gets sent out, your life is busy or you have family visiting or you are headed out of town and it's just not a good time for you to bring a meal. Remember another idea is to do a meal for people when the baby is about six weeks (or two months or four months). The meal train has stopped and the baby is out of the newborn sleepy phase and the rubber is really hitting the road! I sometimes put a reminder in my calendar to check in later.
- Too busy to cook? Another idea, especially if the family has other kiddos, is to do a Papa Murphy’s pizza night for them! They make little “Mini Murphs” where the kiddo can make their own pizza- how fun is that? Most people I know love cookie dough - either home made or store bought (hey, no one is looking if you eat it raw or cook it!).
- I was talking to a friend and she said she brings breakfast items for families. I thought that was a great idea! Enough food for leftovers for that mid morning sleep deprived-momma-hunger-frenzy snack (or midnight- someone brought us a delicious cheesecake and I for sure got into that after a 2 am feeding session!)
- Some other ideas if you feel too overwhelmed or would rather not cook for others is to drop off a little gift if the baby has older siblings- crayons, coloring book, stickers, chalk, bubbles are cheap examples and bring a lot of happiness to kiddos and buy momma about 10 minutes alone (read- a shower to hit the important parts or a chance to sip her 5th time warmed coffee!)
- Also, snacks like granola bars, fresh fruit, veggie trays are all quick grabs at the grocery store to love on a new momma to throw in with the meal you are bringing or to just drop by any time.
All this to say, I am so grateful that our church has so many women who faithfully sign up time after time to serve others in our church, and also wanted to point out that there are other ways to love on them too if you’re self-conscious about your cooking or feel it’s too much for you to take on. If this is something you’re hesitant to try, I would encourage you to just do it 😊 It will bring much joy and fill stomachs to parents who are truly thankful for one less thing to worry about that night!
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