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hen my newborn daughter and I were being discharged from the hospital, one of
the 6,000 instructions the nurse gave me was to “stay inside for at least
four days.” I knew this task would prove challenging because I love to shop, eat at restaurants and visit with friends. I told myself that if I could
stay inside for a week and let my husband and mother-in-law take care of
things, I’d throw a nice dinner party for friends and family to end my
‘house-arrest.’
That was five months ago and I have yet to host that dinner party. My
priorities have been placed elsewhere, and cooking dinner for a large number
of guests is not at the top of that list. Once I get a better grip on
motherhood, though, I will ease back into entertaining. Now, this is not to
say I’d like to put a hold on my social life altogether -- conversely, I’d like
to resume my pre-motherhood social life. I’m just finding it difficult to do
so.
The main ‘barrier’ keeping me from returning to my previous social life is
not my daughter – it’s my friends. After-the-fact, I’m told: “We were going to
invite you but didn’t think you’d be able to make it because of the baby.”
Now, yes, I may need advance notice of an outing to find a babysitter. And
perhaps my budget for spending money is slimmer than it once was, but don’t
I at least deserve the courtesy of an invite? And I can determine on my own
whether my means allow me to hang out.
I’m not going to give up on my friends. After all, I am the first in my
circle of friends to have a baby, so they may not know better! During this
‘social downtime,’ I’ve become more comfortable taking my daughter out with
me. With the exception of navigating her stroller through narrow aisles and
oddly placed displays, it is actually fun to take my daughter out shopping.
She really enjoys the different shapes and colors the mall has to offer.
My next step is to join a mothers' group. Although the women in these social
groups share the common thread of motherhood, they make it a point to mingle
and organize outings.
Contact Rachel L.C. Powell at rachel@mommytoo.com.
Rachel L.C. Powell is a 24 year old new mother and recent
'transplant' to Atlanta. She owns a public relations consulting firm which she
operates from her home office so she can spend time with her loving husband,
newborn daughter, and Dunwoody -- her fiesty Jack Russell Terrier.
Prior to relocating to Georgia, she worked in the public affairs
office of the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Washington, DC. Powell is an honor graduate of Howard University where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in the School of Communications.
Rachel is a member of Hands On Atlanta and Alpha Kappa Alpha
Sorority, Inc.and has a great interest and dedication to community, health, and
education. In her free time she enjoys reading, learning, and cooking.
Copyright 2004, Rachel L.C. Powell
Page 12
MOMMY TOO! MAGAZINE :: DECEMBER 2004 |
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December Issue 2004
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