of postpartum recovery. And then obviously the sleep: I feel I’ve actually done really well, and he’s a pretty good sleeper. It’s amazing what your body can do after you have the baby… how many hours you can go without consistent sleep. I mean, I was shocked. You’re just running on adrenaline. It’s actually kind of cool to just see what your body can do. Is it great for you? Probably not. But it’s fun to see that, because I didn’t believe it until I experienced it. There are also endless amounts of joys. You look at them, and you feel joy. Sometimes there are tears, but as far as joys go, I’m health- literate and educated, and I still look at him like it is such a miracle that this thing was created! WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU HOPE TO TEACH YOUR CHILD? KATHARINE: A couple things come to mind, but gratitude is one of them. When you are internally and externally grateful, and you share that with other people, it’s every aspect of your life. From someone holding the door for you or someone picking up your trash or someone coming to clean your house, to having a patient that gives you positive feedback. We can’t do anything in life without other people. Everything we do in life has other people involved, and it’s so important to always be mindful of that and to communicate that with other people. More is not always better. I want him to understand that you need very few things in life. You don’t need much, and you can still be just as happy and just as successful. I’ve really tried to just be content and present with where we are, so I’ve been very grateful for that as well. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE THINGS TO DO AS A FAMILY? KATHARINE: My husband and I love to go try new restaurants. We bring [Parker] along the way. We’re only four weeks in, so I’m sure this will become more difficult as time goes on, but I’m figuring this out as we go. Bringing him and exposing him to different environments is a big thing for me. We kind of did that with our dogs too; anywhere we could bring them, we would bring them. I love my dogs; they’re definitely the loves of my life along with Parker now. So I would say: exposing him from a very early age, in a safe way, to different environments so he can start to get used to it. Does he have any idea at this point in time where he is? Absolutely not. But, we want him to be
the kid that we can go to dinner with and he knows how to sit in a high-chair and how to eat dinner with us as a family. Also traveling: we’ve now gone on a couple different weekend getaways nearby, so we’re getting him integrated into our life as much as possible, but also making a routine that works for him, keeping him safe and growing. DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR OTHER NEW PARENTS? KATHARINE: Prepare for what you can prepare for, so that you have more room for the unexpected, the flexibility, and the winging it. Prepare for (if you have the resources) help. Prepare for postpartum. Talk to people, friends, and family that you’re comfortable with; talk with your provider about what to expect postpartum and how you can be prepared for that. If you have a spouse, try to have conversations before the baby arrives about how they can be helpful to you. Giving yourself grace is huge, huge, huge. If you’re someone that needs to be around other people, once a day, plan something to get out of the house. Those are things I try to do every day that have truly been, mentally, really really helpful. WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO? KATHARINE: I’m actually looking forward to going back to work. It’s going to be hard, so I’m definitely nervous about the transition. I know it’s going to be a new routine and trying to find a new work-life balance. But I truly love what I do, and I love who I work with, which I think is really important. I miss them, I miss my staff, I miss the other providers that I work with and having that social interaction with my patients and with my office. As far as being a mom, I’m just looking forward to watching him grow into this human, just looking at all those little steps, hopefully influencing him to be a good human as he grows up. Quick Q’s My guilty pleasure is……….Creole Creamery ice cream (but I don’t feel guilty about it) or sushi. My favorite date night is………. Trying new restaurants. My favorite girls night out is…………. Also trying new restaurants… I’m a happy hour/early dinner kind of gal. Something that makes me laugh is..... Memes.
NOLAFAMILY.COM | JULY 2024 15
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