And just like that – we are Gerdes, party of seven!!
You know when you’re 4 and you’re excited about being a “whole handful” when you turn 5? Well, I feel like I just turned 5 – a whole handful of treasure!
It’s quite the adventure having a baby within the same week as you get a teenager. Our oldest turned 13 and seven days later, our youngest was born. To say we’re having fun is an understatement. The only trouble with having four older siblings is that there is only one baby to be held. Especially because dad claims the baby at all meal times because it’s the only time he’s not farming or sleeping.
Being freshly post-partum myself, I’d like to speak to the new moms out there. What do they need to hear? Truth be told, new moms aren’t reading this newspaper because they’re elbow deep in diapers and half delirious from sleep deprivation, so I’ll talk to the rest of you. If you know a new mom, or you are married to a new mom, here is what she needs to know:
1.“You’re doing a good job.” This mom-ride is crazy enough to make high-functioning, college-educated adults women their sanity. Some days I don’t feel like I can even put normal sentences together between the brain fog and the hormone shifts. In the words of chat GPT, “Guys – if your hormones changed as dramatically as your wife’s do after birth, you’d probably call your doctor, your pastor, and your mom – all in the same afternoon.” Tell her she’s doing a good job – and be ok if it makes her cry, because it probably will. Don’t be scared. Just grab some kleenex … and maybe a snack for her once she’s done crying.
2.“You’re beautiful.” Your ENTIRE physical world just gave everything it could to prioritize the life of your baby. Take a breath. In the words of my older sister, “Don’t even THINK about touching your “normal” clothes for nine months or more.” Dads, this could mean she needs to get out and go shopping. Help her. Enable her. Tell her she’s beautiful maybe 10 times a day, because she’ll forget in between each time.
3.“Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work.” — C.S. Lewis
It’s easy to think that we need to “get back to life as usual,” either in schedule, body, work, etc. But moms need to realize they are doing incredible work. I love telling my kids I’m working when I sit on the couch and nurse our new baby. It helps remind me that I’m doing something valuable and there is nowhere else I should be. More than just physical care, this important work is quite literally shaping the souls of the next generation. We’re sowing the seeds that will become thoughts, that will manifest in actions, that will create the futures of these people we are raising. Let us sow carefully. Help us to sow wisely. If you know a post-partum mom, help her know that this is worthy work. This is holy work. This is work that God designed especially for her.
If you just had a baby – WAY TO GO!!! You’re doing a great job. You’re beautiful. You’re doing exactly the most important work you could do.
If you know someone who just had a baby (especially if you’re the husband!), try these cookies out on her – and you can thank me later.
Meet your farmer – Liz Gerdes. She & her husband run a farm-to-table Raw milk dairy and Airbnb in Caledonia, Minn. They empower moms (& dads) to confidently feed their families nutrient-dense food using farm fresh milk! Visit gerdesfreshfarm.com or follow her on Facebook @gerdesfreshfarm or Instagram @gerdesliz for more info.
World’s Best Lactation Cookies
3 c. old fashioned oats
1 ½ c. flour (I use freshly ground whole wheat)
3 Tbsp. brewers yeast
3 Tbsp. ground flaxseed
½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. salt (I like a little more than ¼ tsp)
12 tsp. butter, browned, then slightly cooled
4 Tbsp. virgin coconut oil
¾ c. brown sugar
2 large eggs + 1 large egg yolk
1 ½ Tbsp. vanilla
1 ½ c. semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips/chunks
1 c. mini chocolate chips
½ c. shredded coconut, optional
½ c. chopped pecans, optional
Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, yeast, flaxseed, baking powder, soda, cinnamon and salt. Next, add in the oats and combine.
In the bowl of your electric mixer, beat the butter and coconut oil on medium speed until creamy, about 1-2 minutes. Add in the sugar and beat on medium to high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl if needed. Add in the egg and egg yolk, beating until combined, about 2 to 3 minutes. Make sure you scrape the bowl to be sure that it is all evenly mixed.
Add in the vanilla extract and beat until combined again. Gradually add in the dry ingredients, beating on low speed until just combined and mixed. Stir in the chocolate chips, coconut and nuts, until combined.
Scoop the dough into 1-inch rounds, or use a large cookie scoop to make them uniform. Place on a baking sheet about 2 inchesapart and press dough to flatten slightly. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the bottoms are just golden. Let cool completely before storing in a sealed container.
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