Delegation as a New mom – 6 Mom Tasks Which Will Help Out Massively!
Being a new mom is exciting, adventurous, and a little bit scary; but no one warns you just how overwhelming it can sometimes be! All of a sudden, there is a little person whose every need is now dependent on every move you make. There is enough parenting literature out there to sink a ship, so I have decided to simplify one thing that will help you massively as a new mom.
One of the hardest things to do for me when I was a new mom was to ask for help. As a ‘type A’ go-getter, I felt a constant pressure to do everything perfectly myself, which is totally unrealistic. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
So, the next time someone offers to help out, whether they are a family member, friend, or neighbor; do not send them packing or simply cash in for a coffee run! Here are six fairly simple “mom tasks” which your loved ones can pitch in on to help lighten your load.
1: Help Around the House
Though this seems like something you can just do in your free time, it is a little job that will ease your mind and relax you if it is done for you. From little things like washing up last night’s dishes to mopping the kitchen floor; these 10-minute chore jobs will lighten your load and do wonders for your stress levels. Having a clean house leads to a clean mind. These simple jobs are especially helpful while your body is still recovering from labor. Here are a few simple tasks:
- Handwashing dishes or putting on the dishwasher
- Small cleaning tasks e.g. vacuuming
- General tidy up
- Dusting surfaces
- Mowing the lawn or tending to plants
2: The Weekly Shopping
On a regular day it can be a bit of a chore to pop out for groceries, but trust me, bending down to pick out the right avocado is something a new mom does not want to do! Having a family member or friend nip out to the shop to get your essentials saves you a trip while you are in recovery, and takes something off your mind.
Or, use a service, like Shipt!
3: Meal Prep
I remember growing up when my mom used to take meals around to families who had new babies or a sick relative, and thinking it was sweet but unnecessary. However, when she started doing it for me after I had my first baby, I realized just what a lifesaver it actually is. Cooking can be a headache and really difficult when you are also tending to a newborn, and either having a cooked meal delivered for you or made for you in your home is one of the best gifts you can be given as a new mom. I personally would recommend for the first few weeks to have at least a few meals a week delivered by family or friends.
5: Laundry – Doing & Folding
This might seem (similarly to doing the dishes) a bit ridiculous to ask a friend to do; but you will soon realize that as a new mom, even the smallest tasks become onerous and tedious. Folding laundry one-handed while holding either a crying or sleeping baby is no-one’s dream, trust me! And neither is having weeks’ worth of laundry stacking up.
6: Baby-Minding
Everyone is going to want their 5 minutes with your gorgeous little newborn, so take advantage of that! When your mom comes around and wants a cuddle for a half-hour, ask her to watch your little one while you shower or nap. If anyone is going to understand the need for this, it is someone who needed it when you were a baby. Little things like showers and naps are golden luxuries in your first couple weeks of new mom life.
Even though your life becomes your baby’s life when they arrive, it is so important to keep yourself tended to and recharged. Accepting the help of your friends and family (who will be more than happy to lend a hand) will allow you to do this. It is so important to reach out when you need help as a new mom, especially in your first few weeks post-partum. Hopefully, these 6 tasks will give you a jumping-off point. Good luck!
Author Bio
Join the Working Mom List
Join the Working Mom collective and get support and tools to help you thrive! Subscribers get access to my library of resources and printables.
Leave a Reply