The First Date Postpartum
(and a little bit of news)
I used to think the spark between us was something that would last.
But as we sat there on our first date in a long time I realised it was different.
The first date postpartum is.
It’s not the one where you’re trying to impress each other.
It’s the one where it’s familiar, we already know what makes each other laugh, but we still love to hear it.
It’s not the one where we marvel at the discoveries of each other.
It’s the one of marvelling at the discoveries of our children, together.
It’s not the one where I worry about what I should order so I don’t get food stuck in my teeth.
It’s the one where I order whatever I want because it’s nice to eat something outside of the bland meals the kids eat (and I would use him as my mirror for food in my teeth anyway).
It’s not the one where we have heaps to say, full of charm, while we put our best selves forward.
It’s the one where silence is OK too, we talk of course, but we breathe, we eat uninterrupted, and we talk about the kids, because somehow it feels easier to dote on them when we aren’t swamped in them.
I didn’t have much of a chance to get ready as we flew out the door the second all 3 were in bed, he told me I looked beautiful, I know how his eyes shine when he feels something, I know him, because there’s history.
The spark ignites something.
But the flame keeps us warm.
It has flickered, and it’s threatened to burn out, there have been some hard times.
The phone call came just as we finished our meals, we left early to settle a very upset baby.
It was that flame I saw in his eyes light up the shadows of the room as her head rested against my chest.
She let out a long shaky sigh as comfort took hold of her.
As comfort took hold of me.
And I smiled at him as he draped a blanket over us on the chair and went to make me a hot drink, like he always does before we go to sleep.
Sometimes it shows in the most unexpected, yet obvious ways.
The gentle and steady flame that lights the way for years to come.
(An older piece of writing I stumbled upon) I thought it might be nice to share with you tonight, and also… da da da daaaaa…. let you know that I have created something that is going to help you capture all of your OWN writing in one keepsake book. I haven’t announced it anywhere yet but I just can’t wait to share it with you!
It’s a guided keepsake journal blending heartfelt essays, insightful questions, and inspiring writing prompts, it will invite you to slow down and capture the moments that might otherwise slip away, from who you were before motherhood to the woman you are still becoming. You don’t need to be a poet to remember your story forever, you just need your voice and a pen.
You can already get a sneaky pre order in here if this sounds like you.
More Soon!
Jess x
This was really beautiful.