SARA DAVIDSON, DOBBS FERRY, NY
When I was completely overwhelmed a few weeks into being a new mother, I ran into a friend at the pediatrician’s office who had an older child as well as a newborn. I was desperate for her sage advice on all the specifics of soothing a baby, maintaining their weight, sleep-training, hiring reliable childcare, healing diastasis recti, how not to hate your husband, finding the time to shower, and general survival. The thing she said that still sticks with me today, even now that my children are a little older, is that I should remember that everything is a phase and everything will change. It may sound simple or obvious, but it has really been an anchor for me. Knowing that each stage is temporary is a very good thing when you’re not getting any sleep and wondering if this is your life from now on, and also a good reminder to be present and cherish a good period, as unfortunately those ebb and flow, too.
Something I wish I had known as a new mother is that there is help available if you feel pain. While breastfeeding my first daughter, I experienced an intense rawness on my nipples that I assumed was just part of the process of getting started. With my second child, I had a new midwife looking after me who made all of that pain go away nearly instantly with a prescription cream, and I didn't have to suffer. I also had a lot of back problems from poor posture during nursing and carrying a baby that I mostly assumed was the achy way I had to feel. These aches and pain were helped tremendously by an exercise program targeted to new mothers that was more of a physical therapy session than a boot camp. I couldn't believe how much better I felt by taking the time to take care of my body with the support of an expert teacher. There are so many resources out there to help with the physical and emotional pains that arise in the transformation into motherhood.
The advice I give to everyone is to be as kind to yourself as possible. This was hard for me when I was so hyper-focused on the ups and downs of caring for a small baby and vigilant about doing everything “right.” Complicating matters are the crazy hormones that cloud your thoughts that didn’t seem to fully level out for me until after each child turned one. When I’m struggling with self-compassion, I try to think of the love I feel for my daughters and apply that same love and care to myself.
SARA’s GREEN SMOOTHIE
When my second child was newly born, I needed to have something portable to keep myself nourished while breastfeeding, and while giving my older daughter the extra attention she was craving. Smoothies are a good way to pack in the nutrients and keep yourself hydrated. My oldest daughter always likes to try what I’m eating or drinking, so it’s a nice way to sneak in some extra veggies for her, too.
I usually eyeball the ingredients instead of measuring them out and make different tweaks to keep them from getting boring. When I’m feeling ambitious (or nauseous) I also add in a little fresh grated ginger, extra avocado when ravenous, pineapple when trying to ward off allergies, or a splash of orange juice when craving something sweet.
I like to serve the smoothies in insulated mugs like this so that they stay cold even when I get distracted and don’t remember to drink them right away. I also use a stainless reusable straw to help ease my guilt about the tons of diapers we throw out.
INGREDIENTS:
A handful of spinach (or other greens)
A few large spoonfuls of plain yogurt (Whole milk yogurt helps add richness when you don’t have ripe avocados on hand, but low fat works, too. Recipe still works well without the yogurt if you’re avoiding dairy).
1 banana (the key ingredient for the best smoothie consistency!)
Quarter or half avocado for thicker consistency
1 cup frozen mangoes
A few ice cubes
1 tsp. ground flax (optional)
1/2 cup of a liquid such as almond milk, coconut water or orange juice when craving something sweet
DIRECTIONS:
Combine all ingredients into a blender and blend together until desired consistency is reached. Add more liquid if needed.
Sara lives in Dobbs Ferry, NY, a small town on the Hudson River north of New York City, with her husband and two daughters, Ella (4) and Lucy (almost 2). She works as the Assistant Editor of Artifex Press where she has contributed to catalogues for artists such as Jim Dine, Agnes Martin and Sol LeWitt, and dreams of opening up a store in the Rivertowns with a curated selection of art books and children’s books. You can follow Sara's art book, cookbook, & kids’ book recommendations on Instagram @picturebookny.
Posted October 1, 2018