delivered on August 15, 2010

On Aug. 18^th, Emily’s daughter will celebrate her first birthday and Emily will celebrate her first “Mama-versary.” Emily reflects on how her maternal instincts surprised her: they governed how she cared for her daughter, but they also fostered a self-awareness and self-care that was so healthy it felt indulgent. Why does it sometimes take caring for someone else for us to realize that we need to care for ourselves? And why do we forget that sometimes caring for someone else IS caring for ourselves?