"When my son was born, I spent the first six months of his life away from work. I was so happy that I could stay home to take care of him, but I was also alone all day. I was a single mother at 26 years old, and my other good friends, who lived out of the area, didn't have kids yet. I felt isolated in new motherhood, but I did have some family nearby."
"My grandmother, who only lived 15 minutes away, began inviting me over for lunch nearly every day. Having a lunch date gave me something to put on my schedule. It gave me a place to be, a reason to get dressed, and leave the house. Eating lunch with my grandmother was exactly what I needed My grandmother always ate at the same time and ate well-balanced, healthy meals. Eating lunch with her held me accountable to a routine and a conscious diet."
A 26-year-old single mother felt isolated during the first six months after her son's birth while staying home to care for him. Her grandmother, who lived 15 minutes away, invited her to lunch nearly every day, creating a schedule and reason to leave the house. The lunches provided balanced, healthy meals and accountability to a routine, and the conversations offered emotional nourishment and practical support. Visits allowed shared childcare and occasional breaks, which were simultaneously comforting and bittersweet as she missed her son while he was held. The grandmother's seasonal moves meant the mother anticipated losing the daily support.
Read at Business Insider
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