The best gift you can give a new mom!

People often ask me what is a good gift for new moms. Typically, with a first child, people love buying newborn clothes, toys, baby gear and other “essentials”. It’s not only fun to spoil the new baby but it’s fun to shop for too. However, when baby number two or three or more comes around, people often seek a gift that’s more suited for the mom assuming the child already has enough hand-me-downs. The truth is, they’re right! The best gift you can provide a new mom, whether it’s her first or second or third and ESPECIALLY if it’s her fourth (or more) child, is the gift of a meal!

How can something so small take up so much energy

Providing new moms with a meal is not unique in my culture. ‘Meal-trains’ as we refer to them (which are now very popular, and has an app), traditionally began as a way to provide support for a family or friend who is grieving a loved one. Together, people would select a day and meal (i.e. lunch or dinner) and provide the meal to the grieving family. Sometimes we feel so helpless but we want to do something to show we care and help, and the simple act of providing a meal does just that.

pre-made meal from Loblaws

This tradition has since transpired as a way to support and help new parents. I remember feeling so overwhelmed after having a newborn baby. I also felt so physically exhasted that I’m pretty sure I ate cheerios for all three meals of the day. Thankfully, my extended family and friends dropped off meals to help us out. It was nourishment for the soul and my body. I will forever remember that one small act of kindness.

Since then, I’ve had the privilege of repaying my friends by providing them with meals when they had their babies. Whether it was their first or second child, I always knew that nothing beats a warm cooked meal. However, I’m not one for cooking (other than to keep my family alive, of course), so I would often order-in or take-out the meals. Recently, I was able to do just that for a close friend of mine who had her second child. Still recovering from her C-section, among everything else, she had her mom and mother-in-law cook all of her family meals for her. With a little help from PC, I was able to send her a lunch meal that included some store-made meals, in accordance with her dietary restrictions. As well, she received some PC Organics Baby food, perfect for her older daughter or for her son in just a few short months. I know it brightened up her day, and took a load off her shoulders!

If you know someone that’s expecting or you want to cheer up a mom who stays at home with her kids during the long dreary winter days (ahem!), you can warm up their heart and belly with a nice hot meal from Loblaws. Don’t forget to send along some PC Organics Baby snacks and meals that are kid-friendly and delicious.

Disclosure: I received compensation as a thank you for my participation in this campaign. As always, the stories and opinions on this blog are my own.