A Postpartum New Year: Two Years To Be Renewed

A Postpartum New Year

I felt good at two days postpartum.

I felt good at two weeks postpartum.

I will feel good at two months postpartum, I’m sure.

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I was not myself at two days postpartum.

I was not myself at two weeks postpartum.

I will not be myself at two months postpartum.

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I am not as social as I was a handful of weeks ago.

I know myself very well and I am not concerned – so don’t go worrying that anything is wrong.

I had a baby. Our family has been learning how to be a family of five during the holiday season.

During the holiday season.

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I have been conserving energy to share my attention strictly with the people who need it.

You know, the ones who rely on me for survival.

Our baby, our toddler, and our preschooler are receiving my attention…pretty much exclusively.

I’m not offering care or attention to much of anything or anyone else.

That is simultaneously who I am and not at all who I am.

(Don’t worry, my husband is the king of holiday spirit for us, so we are thriving in festivity because of who he is and how he cares for us.)

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My daily rhythms will always be centered around glorifying God as I attend to our family’s needs, enjoy marriage, prepare nourishing meals, get outside, and serve others.

That said, my current service to others is mostly limited to those in our home. I am at capacity serving them right now, and that is okay.

I was not myself at two days postpartum.

I was not myself at two weeks postpartum.

I will not be myself at two months postpartum.

Past experience tells me to give myself two years.

Two years of broken sleep, looser skin, and less alone time than I would like…but also two years to embrace snuggles and every day bringing new joys.

Two years of learning who our baby is and how her needs are changing.

Two years of praying for overflowing grace to parent with compassion and kindness.

Two years of treating myself and husband with that same compassion and kindness.

Two years of slow living, hard work, big laughs, and healthy boundaries.

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I was transformed at two days postpartum.

I was transformed at two weeks postpartum.

I will be transformed at two months postpartum.

At two years, I will simultaneously be who I am now and not at all who I am now.

I will be made new.

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As we look towards the new year, I thank God for the sanctifying vocation of marriage and motherhood.

I pray 2025 renews you and is filled with slow living, hard work, big laughs, and healthy boundaries for all of us!