1. Offer to bring the family a meal-- Everyone feels better with some food in their tummy. And even if Mom's not hungry, her other little ones probably are. What a relief to concentrate on her family without scrambling for dinner at 5 pm. Be sure to check and see if there are any allergies and what time the family usually eats. Otherwise, most moms find a meal to be such a blessing.
2. Bring a little something extra-- Don't forget dessert or something quick and easy for snacks or breakfast. Those little extra touches can go a long way.
3. Set up a meal train for others to provide meals-- Most people want to bless the new family and see the new baby as well. Setting up a meal train gives others an opportunity to see a need, meet it, pop in for a second, and use their gifts of hospitality as well. This can be as simple as a piece of notebook paper passed around on a Sunday morning or as high tech as utilizing a meal train on TakeThemAMeal.com
4. Offer to bring a freezer meal-- On the other hand, sometimes a freezer meal is helpful as well. Freezer meals are awesome for families who have relatives visiting and just want to set something aside for when visitors cease.
5. Take other children to the park-- Offer to take her other kids to the park to run off some energy. Often times when mom's at home with the new baby, the kids get sick of being cooped up. They need to get out of the house with their friends and mom might just need a nap. Even if Dad's home, this could be a good opportunity for he and Mom to just reconnect and get a breather.
6. Pick up some groceries-- If you feel comfortable knowing the family well enough, pick up a few things while you're at the store that you know they'll enjoy. If not, check in with mom before you stop by and see if she needs anything. Most families will be blessed by something as simple as a gallon of milk, a loaf of bread, and some peanut butter and jelly.
7. Clean her house-- If you can get away for a little while, send Mom to take a quick nap while you clean up the kitchen, sweep, or run a quick vaccum over the rug.
8. Give a gift card-- In today's society, there is no end to the type of gift cards available. Coffee, groceries, diaper services, take-out, or delivery,... just to name a few. Or if you like the idea of helping her clean our house, but don't have the time yourself, you can pay someone to make a one-time stop just to help her catch up.
9. Send a card-- If you're far away or just want to do something a little special for her, send her a note telling her that you're praying for her or a few words of encouragement. The power of the written word can go a long way in encouraging a new mom.
10. Bring the older kids a treat-- If she has older kids, it's always nice to bring them something special. It doesn't have to be much. It can be something as little as some dollar store glow sticks, a pack of gum, or just telling them that you brought dessert 'cause you were thinking of them.
11. Fold her laundry--No one really enjoys doing laundry, but the real work begins when it comes out of the dryer. This is a great one for helping out mom and still finding a way to visit.
12. Clean up her yard-- This is a big one for Moms and Dads both. Yards often are at the bottom of the list in getting things done, but what a blessing to come home to a mowed lawn or trimmed hedges. And this is a great way for your whole family to work together on a project: mowing, trimming, raking, prunning, or even planting.
13. Bring diapers-- Pick up a package of diapers and wipes. If you're not sure about Mom's preference, you can't go wrong with those for sensitive skin and a receipt.
14. Take her out for the evening-- Sometimes Mom just needs a night away from the chaos. This will probably come later, but keep her mind as the weeks go on. Recruit her husband in encouraging her to get away for awhile and find some place where you can both be comfortable and reconnect. Every mom will spend a lot of time talking about her kids, but also wants to remember what it's like to just be a friend as well.
15. Follow up--Keep her in mind as the weeks and months progress. When a new baby is born, there's usually a big rush to bless the family, but eventually all the buzz dies down. That's when she needs you the most. Check in with her from time to time and don't let her isolate herself.
What ideas to you have for blessing a new mom?
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