Letter to A New Mom

Today, a dear friend will be heading into a hospital to deliver her first child. Amazing. I can only imagine (because 6.9.2006 seems like a lifetime ago) what's she's thinking right now, as she embarks on this new adventure. I've known her since wall bangs were in fashion, and since then, she's made quite a life for herself: fantastic career, wonderful husband with whom she's travelled the world, family and friends who adore her. None of that will change after today, of course, but yet in some way, she'll be a completely different person. It's mystical, really...what effect a child can have on you.

As beautiful as new parenthood is, it can blindside you in ways you never anticipated: ways they don't show you in the perfect Pottery-Barn-Kids-Catalog-Layout world and ways that will make your heart melt. No one warned me about that during my pregnancy...all the "newness" I'd encounter. It's inspired me to write what I'm calling my "Letter to a New Mom," which holds observations and advice (in no particular order) I'd share with anyone stepping into this crazy, beloved and sometimes overwhelming world of being someone's mom. I'll limit it to 10 since no mom has enough time to herself to read (in peace) much more than that.

1. Sleep, as you know it, is over. Sorry to jump right in with that slap in the face, but there it is. Oh, sure, you might have that baby who figures out how to sleep through the night by the time they're four months old, in which case, good for you. But before you get smug, realize that every few months, kids go through phases, and this paradise will most likely end. Be prepared, and invest in some Eye Bright.

2. You may have moments when you think "What the #$% have I done to my life?! I had it made before! Slept in when I felt like it. Had the freedom to come and go as I pleased without packing what amounts to another human being's survival kit every time I left the door. Were we completely insane when we thought 'Let's add a helpless baby to this mix'?" This is completely normal. Anyone who suggests you're odd for having such a thought is either not being honest with herself or was born on another planet.

3. Buy stock in Duracell. Or Energizer. You will need to have on hand, at any given moment, every size and strength of battery available to the general public, because in a pinch, if you don't have every type on hand, the one you don't have is the exact one you'll need. And it could be the difference between the baby napping and subsequent serenity, or you hitting the bottle (the grown-up kind).

4. You'll never again be so invested in the fate of a stuffed animal or tiny square blanket. In fact, I still have a cold flash of fear every time I think of what might happen if Bobo disappeared. Can't recall who gave The Boy that little blue ragamuffin of a dog, but it's become Matt's right-hand-man, the Robin to his Batman, and .... oh, I can't even think about it. A word to the wise: when you figure out what your babe's lovey is, head right out and buy a few backups you can stash away in case fate plays a cruel joke on you.

5. This little person whom you've brought into the world will evoke such love and devotion from you that YOU WILL DO STUPID THINGS on their behalf. Like think, because yours is an only child AND he's getting his tonsils and adenoids out that you must, of course, get him a dog even though you're a neurotic housekeeper who's resistant to change. Oh, wait, maybe that's just me...

6. You'll develop an alarming interest in poop, and there's a very good chance that you and your significant other may talk about it over dinner. Sure, laugh now, but it'll happen.

7. Cheap thrill: You're now someone's boss. Yes, we can have a philosophical debate about this, but I won't apologize: it gives me great pleasure at times to whip out "Because I said so!" when I'm at a loss for a more reasonable answer.

8. You will fall on one side of the Some TV v. No TV/Breastfeed v. No Booby/SAHM v. WATO (work at the office) debate, and the other side will most likely irritate you. Try not to be obnoxious about your own views and resist the urge to kill when "SuperMommy in Her Own Mind" tries to entangle you in a debate. Live and let live, right? After all, we're all just gals trying to do the best we can. Kumbaya, baby.

9. There will never be a face more intriguing than your child's. You will take endless photographs of it: sleeping, smiling, looking off in the distance wistfully. Please resist the urge to send the entire contents of your albums to everyone in your address book. A small percentage of the latest photo shoot to a few well-chosen relatives or friends will suffice.

And for now, last but not least...

10. Knowing what you know now, you will feel royally ripped off when you reflect on how much you made during the height of your babysitting days. When I see my sitter pull into the drive, I'm delighted to fork over three times as much as I made in my youth to have her walk in my shoes for a few hours. When I think back on those '80's moms who played it so cool as they breezed by me on their way out the door and how they deceived me, I get over the lingering guilt of nosing through their stuff and eating their last Hoodsie.

Have some "truths" that you'd share with a new mom? I'd love to hear 'em.

Is It Friday Yet?

I should have known this afternoon that The Boy + Singing Happily To Himself Up In His Room would = Nothing Good Could Come Out Of This. Turns out he was singing happily with a magic marker in his hand and a desire to upgrade the decor. Oh...my...goodness.

Tastes Like Chicken

Michelle's Rule of Life No. 524 (spoken in true "Olivia" style): Just because you like to cook, doesn't mean you have to over complicate things. While most nights of the week, I take pride in prepping a homemade meal for my family, I rarely like to fuss over it, so I'm always on the lookout for recipes that make you look like you've got Iron Chef-quality skills without having to invest Iron Chef-like time. Can you imagine how thrilled I was recently to find this goodie from Campbell's Kitchen (you know, the soup people...M'm m'm good?) in the Sunday Globe circular? Because I appreciate y'all, I'm sharing it, which is actually a BIG deal. Usually I just call such a recipe "Michelle's ____________" and say it's been in the family for years. So here goes. Oh, and make sure you've got biscuits or a loaf of fresh bread on the table...don't waste the yummy gravy!

Lemon-Herb Roast Chicken with Pan Gravy

1 lemon  

1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup  (Regular or 98% Fat Free)

1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves, crushed

1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crushed

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 roasting chicken  (5 to 7 pounds)

1/4 cup dry white wine

1/4 cup water

• Heat the oven to 375°F. Grate 1 1/2 teaspoons zest and squeeze 1 tablespoon juice from the lemon.
• Stir the lemon zest, lemon juice, soup, rosemary, thyme and garlic in a medium bowl. Reserve 1 cup soup mixture for the gravy. Place the chicken into a shallow roasting pan.
• Roast the chicken for 20 minutes. Brush the chicken with 1/4 cup soup mixture.
• Roast for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Remove the chicken to a serving platter and keep warm.
• Spoon off any fat from the pan juices. Stir the wine in the roasting pan and heat over medium-high heat to a boil, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir in the reserved soup mixture and water and cook until the mixture is hot and bubbling. Serve the gravy with the chicken.

Hope this tip solves at least one "what-the-#$%!-do-I-make-tonight?" problem. For nutritional info, visit the website at http://bit.ly/9zd8QJ.