Nurture

There has been a lot of sickness - colds, flu and whooping cough - going around these hills of late, which I guess is normal for this transitional time of year. I was only reflecting a couple of days ago how Forest and I were seemingly unaffected by all the sneezing and coughing we are surrounded by, but this morning we woke up to find that it is our turn!

But despite a razor blade throat, fever, and a slightly grumpy and sniffly toddler, it has been a rather wonderful day of nurture. I have never been very good at doing this for myself during illness. But today was different. Perhaps I am more motivated than ever to care for my own health because I truly have no back-up here to help with my son if things go wrong (my family are all in England, and although Forest's father is still involved in his life he is no longer very available for any extras). I am scared to go back to the state of exhaustion that I suffered from a couple of months ago.

So today I have completely surrendered to the nurture of self and babe. We got up, wrapped up warm and ate a hearty breakfast of lacto-fermented porridge. After accomplishing all the necessary daily tasks we stayed inside with the rain pouring down on the windows, snuggled in bed together, looking through picture books, sipping warm lemon and honey tea and napping. I let go of any worry about what I should be accomplishing - and really - it was like a holiday!

Fortunately I had leftover dahl and vegetable subji from yesterday to reheat and nourish us. We grazed on the new season mandarins and hot buttered toast. This evening I cooked up a big pot of potato and leek soup, that will see us through a couple more sick days if we need it. I have dosed myself up on vitamin C and echinacea, but still don't feel completely confident to give it direct to Forest. I guess he'll get some in the breast milk. He is sleeping restfully for now, and I plan on an early night.