On March 19th, the spring equinox, we planted tiny basil seeds, watered them each day, and waited patiently for them to emerge. One week later, on March 26th, we saw the first tiny green shoots. I admired the little green beauties, in awe of their innate wisdom. As mothers, we hold this innate wisdom too. We trust, as the little seeds do, that we will bloom where we are planted. Those early days postpartum are a time of great transition. Give yourself grace, as you learn about your baby and your baby learns about you. When the seed is covered with soil, it doesn’t yet know what will come. Time, patience, sunlight and water allow it to emerge as the beginning of a beautiful plant that will nourish. As new mothers, you do not yet know all you will need to about caring for and tending to this tiny human. When you give yourself time, patience, and support from others, you will gather the knowledge to move forward each day. We are not born with the knowledge of how to mother; we learn as time goes on what works best for the children in our care and for our family as a whole. We are called to trust this innate wisdom. When we find ourselves in times of fatigue, stress, or darkness, remember the tiny seeds that reach for the light and emerge as a new version of themselves. We have what it takes to care for our children, but we don’t have to do it alone. Just as the seeds depend on care from others, we depend on others for support and love during postpartum. This love and support is key for us to thrive and become the best version of ourselves.
