One of the challenges of returning to work after maternity leave is finding a place to breast pump. Separate from my office, there is no place dedicated to mother’s who choose to pump. I guess I was fortunate that I had my own office, but others still had a key to my office. The first few times I pumped I was afraid someone would walk in.
Instead of continuing to feel nervous, I typed a sign with the following words: “Breast pumping. Do not come in.” To some extent, I felt embarrassed having to do that. Everyone knew what was happening behind closed doors. I can honestly say that was the worst for me; I’ve heard other mothers have to breast pump in the bathroom. How horrible!
I would get the electric breast pump (which is a must), prepare the bottles with the accessories, place the breast shields over my breast and then pump. Like I said before, I was extremely blessed. I would only pump a maximum of nine minutes and I would fill both bottles. Grace, wasn’t this amazing? There were times I needed to quickly replace the bottle to fill another one by a few ounces. Oh, how I enjoyed those times!
When I would breast pump at home, there were times I had to ask Adam to quickly give me another bottle so I wouldn’t overflow the first bottle. He was also so surprised by this and we would just smile.
After a day at work and breast pumping three times, I would come home and showoff this liquid gold, as some mothers call it. Often times, I would pump more milk than Jonathan drank while I was away. Rapidly, I was stocking up on breast milk and freezing it for future use. This liquid gold was an asset worth keeping frozen!
Guiding Lesson: Yes Eve, it was amazing! You were earning double, triple your salary during this time. Your boss didn’t realize how much you really were producing. I wish you could have received some sort of credit for this. Also, other mom’s who were struggling to breastfeed because they had an underproduction would have paid a lot to do what your body was capable of doing.
So Eve, what do you value now? Back then it was liquid gold and you took time to store it for Jonathan. What is it today? What are you working toward today? Do you feel as productive? Do you see your own value and worth? Does placing a value determine your worth? Did the time with Jonathan help you realize that your value was beyond what you did, but the love you gave to him?
It was not tied to any job or company. It was all about being present and taking time to fill his belly with liquid gold. It was his basic need that helped you discover your incredible commodity you were carrying within you. However, you do know that you are much more than this.
I know you delighted in showing off what you produced when you got home, but you were just as valuable even if you could not have been able to produce milk. Take time, Eve, and tell me you know how valuable you are. If you can’t, then please pause each day, like you did to pump, and look within to find, name and celebrate the amazing gold that was given to you when you were born. You don’t have to earn it. It was and is yours to claim! Need to be PRESENT to claim your gold.
MissGuidedMom 