The one thing we do well in my neighborhood is talk. For me, it started almost exactly three years ago when I moved into a small community in a smallish town in Maryland. It wasn’t my dream house or dream location but we had a good feel for the people and the area.
On moving day, my neighbors greeted me with cookies and a phone book and a friendly hello. I can’t imagine what their first impressions were of me. I looked like a hot mess from driving fromNorth Carolina to Maryland early that morning on very little sleep. Although I was cautious, I was pretty sure they were genuine. And a few short weeks later, we all celebrated Memorial Day together.
Since that time, we’ve welcomed at least six babies on my street and celebrated each one. Thankfully, each one has been cause for celebration. Happy, healthy babies delivered full term. Something, perhaps, many of us take for granted.
To help the March of Dimes raise awareness about their #imbornto campaign, I invited some of my neighbors over for a Thursday morning brunch.
Admittedly, I felt very much like “ladies who lunch” (or brunch, as it were) even though we generally never get together during the week. We all have pretty busy schedules so it was nice to carve out this time to get together and celebrate motherhood.
And I found the perfect way to do it.
1. Plan a brunch when older children are in school and younger children are probably not napping. (Don’t forget, like I did, that your house is not babyproofed and that the dogs get very excited when small people come to visit).
2. Host brunch at a time that’s early enough for plenty of chatting but late enough that it will suffice for lunch. (Menu: Asparagus-Mushroom Quiche, mini blueberry muffins, fruit, yogurt, granola).
3. Offer a variety of drinks. Yes, I had coffee, tea, orange juice, and a little something bubbly in case anyone was in the mood for a mimosa (I was, thank you very much).
4. Invite everyone to gather a plate and sit.
5. Scare everyone by telling them you plan to sell them essential oils and nail wraps. When they realize you’re joking, they’re really receptive to anything you have to say!
My message was simple. I invited them to join me to talk about the work March of Dimes does on behalf of prematurely born babies. March of Dimes believes that every baby is born to do something great which is why they’ve started their #imbornto campaign.
We naturally started talking about our birth stories. We traded fantasies about bouncing on balls and having natural drug-free childbirth and how our realities don’t always match our dreams. Many of us had our children via cesarean section. We talked about what it might have been like had out babies been born 50 years ago and if they would have even survived.
To cap off our conversation, I was able to share with them (and you) some of the great partners that are supporting the March of Dimes with special offers. As you consider gifts for Mother’s Day or throughout the year, consider a gift that gives back to premature babies in need.
Why the March of Dimes is So Important
In the United States:
- 1 baby is born prematurely every minute
- approximately 72 die each day before reaching their first birthday
Worldwide:
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- 15 million babies are born too soon each year
Every baby is born to do something special and unique. But they can’t do it alone. As you celebrate mothers and fathers on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, consider supporting one of the #imbornto March of Dimes partners.
This post is part of a sponsored campaign in partnership with The Motherhood and the March of Dimes. All opinions are my own.
