Miss Patience is over 3 months old now--it is already going by so fast! We are enjoying watching her discover how to use her hands and how to communicate with her when she has a sort of grumbling comment on life. She is such a jolly little creature!
And I love watching the little rolls of fat appear all over her with the satisfaction that these came about with hours and hours of nursing.
Nursing takes time. Nursing means eating more. Nursing means I have to postpone certain things when a little person is hungry--especially since I nurse on demand.
But it is worth it. And I have learned over many years how to maximize my nursing times.
For one thing, I can sit and gaze into my baby's eyes and communicate with sound and touch just how much she means to me. This is precious time spent.
And then there is also time for an older sibling--some heart-to-heart time when I am able to concentrate and listen. I sometimes read a library book aloud to my preschooolers, or a novel aloud to all of the children.
And then there is also time for some personal reading--how much time could I spend reading if I didn't have to nurse? And I choose books that will edify and bless me and my family. I have on my current list books by Elizabeth George (A Woman After God's Heart, A Mother After God's Heart), The Supermarket Handbook, The Holy Word of God, etc.
I also use this time to plan and prepare. I have my Commonplace Book, pens, sticky notes, etc. at the ready and sit and write out to-do's, menus and other plans. I even write out outlines for posts here.
I suppose the father of the Gilbraith family (Cheaper by the Dozen) would call nursing "unavoidable delay"--but God has helped me to turn it into the most profitable time of my day--and with His help I am able to live life and enjoy it too!
Are You Desperate for Simplicity?
9 hours ago
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What a wonderful post. We only have 5 so far...I am still nursing the baby. i nurse on demand as well. and I agree with how much is done while nursing. Not only that but, like you said, the precious time you stare at your baby!!! TIME WELL SPENT!!!! Blessings to you!!!
ReplyDeleteLovely post. I remember my nurslings well. I love the Gilbraith quote!
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Gail
Oh, how many times I have felt the same way!!! I am in the process of weaning our 13 1/2 month old simply because she is weaning herself gradually. I went through so much while nursing, but never gave up and boy am I thankful!!! My husband often saw me pumping and would say "mooooo" as he went by, to which I would reply- "you put these things on your boobs and see how well you do!!!" :) Anyway, great post and always a blessing to read your blog!
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Sally
I like to read blogs while I'm nursing DD - like right now! (and occasionally I type a comment with one hand) =)
ReplyDeleteI am nursing right now! It's when I read blogs and books. I am also typing with one hand, getting pretty good at it too :)
ReplyDeleteI'm nursing now, too! My almost 1-year-old is nestled in my arms as I type. I can't imagine I would ever have time to write for my blog...or read...or sew if I didn't have to sit down to nurse him (and my other children before him). What a blessing.
ReplyDeleteOH so SWEET! I so enjoy nursing a little one in the same way, and it's sooo nice to come here and not feel so peculiar amidst all the extended family comments, etc.... (((((HUGS))))) sandi
ReplyDeleteI've always been jealous of folks that can nurse and read -- seems like my kids went straight from needing propping help to get there (so no hands for momma) to becoming grabby squirmers that knocked the book down. Maybe I need a youtube video primer on how it's done.
ReplyDeleteIt was always funny to sit in our tiny lazy boy with a baby in lap and two older kids on the chair arms. We're lucky we didn't have a collapse.
Thanks for the post.
Actually, I think Frank Gilbrath would have been content to let babies be babies. It was when they got a bit older that he expected them to contribute to the family. Remember, his wife (education and all) seemed to love being a mother. I think it is the mothers who push the babies to wean early so they can get busy and get things done. I am 49 now and our youngest of our eight is now four...I miss those days!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful.
ReplyDeleteOh, Mr. Gilbraith would certainly approve of your multi-tasking! Nursing babies is such a blessing in so many ways, it relaxes mommy by releasing those mothering hormones (and she can put her feet up and take a break), and my toddlers always knew this was the time to sit on the arms of my chair and snuggle. They were usually armed with stacks of books, too. With my last baby, I stopped nursing her because I was pregnant, then lost the baby. I had always pictured myself nursing the last baby for a few years, so it was sad for me. But then God might have one more for us! I am ever hopeful!
ReplyDeleteHaving a large family is certainly not all work and no play, and nursing the baby is a joy!
Your post is very encouraging and I appreciate it. Currently I have a 3 week old son in the NICU and he will be there for at least 12 more weeks. He had an abdominal cyst removed and a small portion of his intestines, so he is not allowed to be breastfed yet. So I pump exclusively. I HATE the pumping. It's almost like everytime I have to drop everything and sit there with those cold plastic cones on me, I'm reminded of the dreams I had of nursing my son, which I can't do. I'm holding out hope that I'll be able to maintain enough supply through these next 3 months to be able to exclusively breastfeed him when I'm allowed. It also doesn't help that they won't even allow him to eat the breastmilk yet at all. But maybe in the next week or so they'll feed it to him by tube. I'm sorry to babble, you don't even know me. But I just can't wait to have that precious time with my son and I thank you for your encouraging words.
ReplyDeleteSame for me, Marie...I was looking forward to having lots of time for reading...but by the time my baby girl didn't need the propping that required both my hands, she was way to interested in whatever I was holding, and would not concentrate on nursing...popping on and off! Ouch!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, it reminds me to just stop and watch her, and soak it all in. I love it.