Dear Sarah in a few weeks,

You just had a baby! If you have that easy baby that you feel like you were due for, ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF IT. Hopefully she never cries in the carseat, hangs out in her baby chair happily, and only cries occasionally. That would be awesome. But, there’s a good chance she’s not like that, and you feel tired beyond belief and very overwhelmed. And, that’s okay.

Caleb was a very hard baby, and you somehow managed to write this survival guide series (part 1, 2, and 3) in the midst of it all. Do yourself a favor and don’t read it. It will just make you even more overwhelmed.

There’s only one thing you should be thinking about. What are things that bring you life and how can you choose into those things, even in the midst of being very tired? You taking care yourself and doing things that bring you any ounce of life, energy, and joy is the greatest gift to your children right now.

Here’s a short list of things that are already proven life-givers to you:

• Eat a piece of dark chocolate, heck many pieces of it. Slowly, savor it.
• Go on a short walk down the block, run into your neighbors and linger in conversations with them.
• If a walk is too much, just go outside, even for a few minutes.
• Water your garden.
• Go to bed, really, really early.
• Put on some makeup, maybe even do your hair a little.
• Watch a cooking show.
• Do a mini-examen, reflect on what you’re grateful for from the day.
• Text a BFF about whatever thought is in your mind.
• Cuddle with your husband.
• Spend what seems like a very long time just staring at all your babies’ little faces, toes, and fingers. Snuggle with them, and enjoy them.
• Eat more chocolate, hopefully you stocked up.

Love,

Your current, very pregnant self.