Sometimes a Mom Just Has to Sit!

Most mom's I know don't sit down a whole lot, unless they are at work, sitting at a desk.  There are times, though, when a mother must just sit.

A mother has been just sitting near my house for the past few weeks. It is a mother bird. She has a nest in the rafters beneath our deck. Periodically, I go around the house and check on her. Each time that I have, she has still been there - - just sitting there.

This photo was taken with a zoom lens, so as not to disturb this mother bird!

She reminds me of myself many years ago in May, when all I could do was sit. I was the mother of a toddler, and pregnant with my second child. One day I began experiencing contractions - ten weeks too early! The doctor determined that while I did not need to be in the hospital, my activity needed to be drastically reduced so my baby would not be born too early. Initially I was on bed-rest with bathroom privileges. After a bit, I was allowed to go up-and-down our flight of stairs one time each day. I still had to refrain from doing any lifting (including our toddler), housework, or standing (except to go to the bathroom, thank goodness!) All I could do was sit.  And sit.  And ... sit.

This mother bird is more prepared than I was. She sits in a nest she built before she laid her eggs.  I had been buying fabric to decorate my nursery the day my contractions began.  In the ten weeks I sat around, I was frustrated that I had not yet "feathered my nest." It was hard to explain to my toddler why I could not be more active with her, although fortunately we still managed to have lots of cuddle time. I felt badly my husband had to take over so many of the tasks I usually did. Being idle for weeks was not something for which I had anticipated or prepared.

The weeks did pass, and we managed. A short while before my due date, with my baby no longer at risk, my activity restrictions were lifted. I got as busy as the bird had been when she built her nest.  I sewed curtains and bedding, and stenciled the nursery walls. I cleaned the house and I played with my daughter.

The sewing and stenciling of this room probably would never have gotten done,
if I hadn't managed to do it before my second baby was born!

My due day came ... and went. The contractions continued, as they had for weeks. Finally, three days late, I gave birth to a wonderfully healthy baby boy. Every day of the past 17 years I have been thankful for those weeks that I just sat.

Sit, mother bird, sit. When your eggs hatch, you will be so glad that you did.