I use Formula (with a final twist)
"I need you to come help me clean. I noticed you are postpartum Doula as well and I just had a baby".
When I arrived I congratulated her for baby. A beautiful baby with dark pointy hair. Of course, she looked exhausted so I ask if there was any other way to better support her.
"My sister came all the way from X to support me. Thank you"
I felt that straight into my heart. Then I smiled because automatically my mind traveled years ago when my sister had each of her beautiful daughters in Puerto Rico and in Florida, United States. I was there. For each of them. I remember each special smell of each of them. I cooked, I cleaned, I laughed and cried with her on every one of them. I woke up at 3 am sometimes to hear them cry and ask for "mama" and seeing Ariadna's face questioning "titi?" in a tone of "what the heck are you doing here when I'm calling mama". I remember that day when I was a flight attendant and flew in secret into Florida "to rescue them" after Tiara was born and brought them 4 to the island, got them into my water cooling system 1985 engine blue volky van without back seats (I used it to camp around the island, I loved that beast). I felt so much joy watching Mijeyka trough the rear view mirror rolling and laughing anytime I'll do a curve.
Then I came back.
She asked me about "how do these women do with breastfeeding discomforts" and I gave her some tips she and her sister paid close attention to. I love talking about this.
Then off I went to clean. Thinking on Mijeyka in college, thinking on Ariadna and hoping she's going to protests...thinking on Tiara and wishing I recorded her playing the piano.... Thinking of my sister Jellyka and her warm hugs and contagious laughter..... They are far and yet they are so close. I didn't feel not even a drop of sadness thinking on them. It makes me so happy to think of them.
Done with cleaning. She approaches me and says, " Thank you a lot. So, you started late so we agree on paying you 1hr45mins, right?"
(We agreed on 2 hrs. I cleaned 2 baths, 2 rooms, 1 full kitchen, vacuum, mopped and dusted everything)
Me: "Late?"
Her: " Yeah you didn't start cleaning till 2:15 pm"
Me: "Oh I get it. I arrived at 2, I just probably lost track talking about breastfeeding to help you".
Her: "Oh appreciated, I was just curious, but I do use formula"
On my way out I remembered the formula bottle on the sink. Click.
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