Jasmine

Not a recipe exactly but whenever I am at the store I get a rotisserie chicken. Costco is my favorite but any store’s chicken is good enough. I never regret it. So many things you can do with it, or just eat as is. If I don’t have enough veggies at home I also get a bagged salad.

Same! I second guessed myself so much that if I had done XYZ differently early on, things would have been different. I needed an “it’s not your fault” moment from our lactation consultant.

Also something I really needed to hear in the first days when my baby was losing too much weight from our overnight nurse: “we have formula, it’s ready right now and we have as much as you want.” No judgment, just caring support. 11 weeks later I am still tearing up thinking how greatful I am to her.

If you are local you could frame as something for you: “it’s been such a joy to watch [baby] grow up, I’d love to spend more time with them or do [things you’d like to do] to help you out more.” I’m a first time mom of a two month old and my mom lives across the street. She helps a lot but I don’t want to burn her out so I am careful not to ask for more than what she offers.

If you have other grandchildren, definitely don’t compare or say how your other kids handle it. My in laws do that and even though I know it comes from a place of caring and support, it’s easy for it to feel like a criticism of my parenting when I already don’t feel super confident.