This morning I went to Costco with Rainer. He fell asleep in the car on the way there, so I did circles through the parking lot for about 15 minutes before I gave up because I felt like a fool. I got several random stares. I'm thinking Mexican moms don't bother with circling parking lots for sleeping babies.
I had two shopping lists - ours & one for a friend who just had a baby last month. Rainer was the cutest little sidekick shopping buddy, sitting like a big boy in the cart, drooling all over my iPod case, chubby feet squished into his blue sneakers (size 2!)
Costco is one of my favorite places. ::hangs head in shame:: It's one of the few places I can just wander and feel like I'm not such a foreigner and buy overpriced imported cherries and Skippy peanut butter. Plus they have cheap frozen yogurt, free coffee in the mornings and A/C. It's my happy place.
After loading the car we headed to my friend's house to drop off her groceries. She has a 22 month old, a 1 month old, and can't walk or lift anything due to a messed up disk (not the technical term) in her back which requires surgery. Her parents are here to help for a few days longer, and then she doesn't know what they'll do to survive. They had summer travel plans that will be canceled. She is supposed to be laying down and resting 24/7. She can still breastfeed, but has to hand baby off to be burped by someone else.
You guys.
I teared up while I was there just thinking about the stress they must be feeling. Sure, my baby doesn't sleep, I miss my family, I had a stomach bug yesterday, and Mr P is in the busiest month of the year at work. There is stress, yes.
But I can walk, heck RUN, and I can hold my children. Sometimes perspective is healthy.
Say a prayer for my friend if you pray.
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