Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Meals for new parents is food for the soul

Katie Lockwood, MD
Physician
April 20, 2016
55 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

When I had my first baby, one of my friends coordinated a meal train where coworkers could sign up to bring our new family a dinner every other night. Those first few weeks of motherhood were such a chaotic blur that I do not even remember how many weeks this meal delivery went on for except to say that it was both long enough and over too quickly. There was an awkwardness in accepting such gifts every other night that made me grateful when it was over, but they were so generous, and delicious, that I also wished they would never stop.

While I delete almost all of the old text messages on my phone (obviously to make room for more pictures of my children), there are two that I have saved for the past five years. One of those text threads is from a co-resident who texted me from the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) to coordinate a time to drop off my dinner. Afterwards, he followed up with this text: “Just carved my bird and the thighs a little undercooked despite pop up timer. If yours is same sorry. Just bake thighs and legs in Pyrex at 350 degrees for 20 or 30 min when u want to eat them. Enjoy.”

There are three reasons why I love this text so much that I saved it for five years.

1. Every time I read this text I remember how delicious that dinner was as if it were March 22, 2011, all over again. It was amazing. And the thighs were not undercooked at all.

2. No one understands sleep deprivation better than a resident or new mother. So I love that my co-resident knew the level of exhaustion I felt and gave me a dummy’s guide to reheating food. He basically typed, “I know you can barely spell your name, so let me make this as mindless and easy as I can to prevent you from burning down your home or ruining the dinner I made you.” Now that I am an experienced mother of two children who sleep through the night and no longer taking 30-hour calls, it makes me laugh every time I read this instructional text.

3. This one little text reminds me of how much love those first few weeks of parenthood brought us. All of the stress prior to my delivery regarding my work schedule seemed to wash away as my co-residents rose up to care for us through their cooking. Every dish delivered felt like a warm hug (and many did come with hugs!), and whether the food was as delicious as that one chicken or was the fifth lasagna, each was devoured and appreciated. Some delivered meals without getting to meet my son, as he was still in the NICU, but cheered me on during what were two of the most challenging weeks of my life. As co-residents, we endured many emotionally draining experiences, so they knew what inner strengths and weaknesses I possess and how to support me.

About a year ago, I saw from my kitchen window a former resident and his wife carrying their newborn baby home for the first time. I remembered fondly the meals that were given to me at this time, so I quickly cooked up a homemade soup and ran it down the street. No matter how simple or unsophisticated my culinary skills, I decided that I should not hesitate to replicate the meal-sharing love I received during that time of my life. These meals can be an invaluable lifeline to new parents, who despite an overwhelming love for their newborn can feel alone and a hot meal between friends is the best way to cure loneliness. Despite the possibility of undercooked thighs, one such meal, and text, has endured as a memory of how thankful I am to have had a community that fortified my soul when I was hungry.

Katie Lockwood is a pediatrician who blogs at Mommy Call.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

It's time for physicians to practice an evidence-based life

April 20, 2016 Kevin 25
…
Next

If meaningful use is a great idea, why isn't it employed more widely?

April 20, 2016 Kevin 4
…

Tagged as: OB/GYN, Pediatrics

Post navigation

< Previous Post
It's time for physicians to practice an evidence-based life
Next Post >
If meaningful use is a great idea, why isn't it employed more widely?

More by Katie Lockwood, MD

  • A pediatrician’s approach to vaccine hesitancy in a pandemic

    Katie Lockwood, MD
  • I am grateful to Doctor Barbie

    Katie Lockwood, MD
  • During a physician’s infertility journey, another doctor offers hope

    Katie Lockwood, MD

Related Posts

  • What if people were only allowed to use food assistance dollars to buy healthy food?

    Peter Ubel, MD
  • When celebrities attack children with food allergies

    Lianne Mandelbaum
  • Beware of food sensitivity tests on Facebook

    Roy Benaroch, MD
  • A medical student’s letter to her parents

    Hillary McKinley
  • Food allergies are frightening, not funny

    Lianne Mandelbaum
  • How a food blog paid for medical school tuition

    Monica Bravo

More in Physician

  • Unlearning our habits: a journey from intelligence to wisdom

    Brian Sayers, MD
  • Beyond pizza and pens: National Doctors’ Day should be about saving lives

    James Young, MD
  • Maximizing physician potential: How coaching can aid in conflict resolution, enhance health care leadership and build stronger teams

    Asha Padmanabhan, MD
  • Physicians are a finite resource we need to protect

    Jack Resneck, Jr., MD
  • Tom Brady’s legacy and the importance of personal integrity in end-of-life choices

    Kevin Haselhorst, MD
  • The hidden truths of hospital life: What doctors wish you knew

    Emily Stanford, DO
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • What is driving physicians to the edge of despair?

      Edward T. Creagan, MD | Physician
    • The untold struggles patients face with resident doctors

      Denise Reich | Conditions
    • Beyond pizza and pens: National Doctors’ Day should be about saving lives

      James Young, MD | Physician
    • Physicians are a finite resource we need to protect

      Jack Resneck, Jr., MD | Physician
    • From clocking in to clocking out: the transition to retirement

      Debbie Moore-Black, RN | Conditions
    • Unlearning our habits: a journey from intelligence to wisdom

      Brian Sayers, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools

      Helen Kim, MD | Policy
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
    • It’s time for C-suite to contract directly with physicians for part-time work

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Unlearning our habits: a journey from intelligence to wisdom

      Brian Sayers, MD | Physician
    • Lessons from an orthopedic surgery journey [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Beyond pizza and pens: National Doctors’ Day should be about saving lives

      James Young, MD | Physician
    • Maximizing physician potential: How coaching can aid in conflict resolution, enhance health care leadership and build stronger teams

      Asha Padmanabhan, MD | Physician
    • The future of education: AI empowerment, YouTube college credits, and the impact on traditional colleges

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Tech
    • The beauty of a patient’s gratitude

      Dr. Damane Zehra | Conditions

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • Moderna's Steep COVID Vaccine Price: Corporate Greed or Capitalism?
  • House Republican Argues Against FDA Budget Increase
  • Prescriptions for Stimulants Jumped During the Pandemic
  • Federal Judge Strikes Down ACA's Preventive Care Coverage Requirements
  • Pandemic Jump in ED Visits for Firearm Injuries Continued Into 2022

Meeting Coverage

  • VTE Risk in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer Increases With More Lines of Chemotherapy
  • Obesity's Impact on Uterine Cancer Risk Greater in Younger Age Groups
  • Oral Roflumilast Effective in the Treatment of Plaque Psoriasis
  • Phase III Trials 'Hit a Home Run' in Advanced Endometrial Cancer
  • Cannabis Use Common in Post-Surgery Patients on Opioid Tapering
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • What is driving physicians to the edge of despair?

      Edward T. Creagan, MD | Physician
    • The untold struggles patients face with resident doctors

      Denise Reich | Conditions
    • Beyond pizza and pens: National Doctors’ Day should be about saving lives

      James Young, MD | Physician
    • Physicians are a finite resource we need to protect

      Jack Resneck, Jr., MD | Physician
    • From clocking in to clocking out: the transition to retirement

      Debbie Moore-Black, RN | Conditions
    • Unlearning our habits: a journey from intelligence to wisdom

      Brian Sayers, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools

      Helen Kim, MD | Policy
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
    • It’s time for C-suite to contract directly with physicians for part-time work

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Unlearning our habits: a journey from intelligence to wisdom

      Brian Sayers, MD | Physician
    • Lessons from an orthopedic surgery journey [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Beyond pizza and pens: National Doctors’ Day should be about saving lives

      James Young, MD | Physician
    • Maximizing physician potential: How coaching can aid in conflict resolution, enhance health care leadership and build stronger teams

      Asha Padmanabhan, MD | Physician
    • The future of education: AI empowerment, YouTube college credits, and the impact on traditional colleges

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Tech
    • The beauty of a patient’s gratitude

      Dr. Damane Zehra | Conditions

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today iMedicalApps
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...