Dear Friend, Take the 5 minutes.

I'm a shower addict. I know people are all, "Oh, we don't need to shower everyday" and to those people I say, this is not a need. It's a want. I love a hot shower. I love how relaxing it is and on days I'm really feel stressed, I might take two. That's infrequent, but its happened. Showers and baths, man, I love 'em.

One thing you hear a lot from new moms or about new moms is, "I haven't showered in days!" I feel like it's almost expected that no new mother should or could have the time to take a shower. Someone told me (Mom? Katie? Who knows, those first weeks are a blur of exhaustion) that I just need to take the shower. How long does it really take to jump in there and wash my hair? 5 minutes? 

"But, Sara! The baby might need me!" 

The baby might want you but if the baby is in a safe, comfy space then the little squish will be okay for 5 minutes. 

"But, SARA! THE BABY!"

I swear to you, for five minutes, that kid can survive. Now, I'm not suggesting that you put your screaming child down and hop in the shower (unless you're about to lose your s***, in which case, yes, do that). Get little pudding to sleep and get your butt in the shower. Bring in the monitor (technology!) and then you'll know if you only get a 5 minute shower (because pudding sensed you are doing something for yourself and immediately awoke) or a 15 minute shower because that kid is asleep! WOOOT! 

If showers aren't your thing, insert whatever. A quick nap. A cup of coffee. Whatever. I know it sounds selfish, but sometimes you need to be a little selfish to not get really angry or fall into the depths of despair. Most of us, sadly, do not have a mom, aunt, cousin, sister, etc. coming over after the birth of a baby to bind our bellies, make us food and give us those little breaks. Even if we do have people around, we feel like we have to do everything ourselves because it's our baby and this is our job. Yes, it is. But you have to give yourself a break to do your job well. 

Running yourself into the ground doesn't help anyone. I know, because I do it too much. I don't ask Joe for help when I should. I don't take the time to recharge and sleep and whatever. Then I find myself getting snappy with my son or abruptly bursting into tears. 

Take the five minutes. Just do it. You need them in those early days. I'll try to take them too, okay? Our hair will look wonderful until it all starts falling out. :)