A Note from Chris Adams: As a mom of twins, I SO get the need to consider a few special needs of moms who are raising more than one infant, two year old, or preschooler at a time. One of my friends had triplets, plus an older child. I just couldn’t imagine how she did it! Another friend challenged us all to reach out and offer one or two hours a week to let her out of the house.
Here are some special ways for you to minister to moms of multiples and help other women in your church reach out to moms of multiples in practical ways. Thanks Deb Douglas, Minister to Women, First Baptist Church, Bossier City, LA for this article today!
Awwww! Our hearts melt when we see pictures of adorable sets of multiples. They’re just so cute! Well, in the picture, that is. In real life, multiples can be a challenge!
When a mom gives birth to or adopts a set of multiple babies, the odds are suddenly against her. She needs help evening things up. Chatting with Julie, the mother of twin girls, both with unique health issues, I gleaned these ideas to help:
- Call, but not at 5:00 p.m. Everything falls apart at 5:00 in the afternoon with multiples.
- Send encouragement cards. A few words of encouragement can change everything!
- Fold laundry. Laundry never gets done; help with catching up is a blessed relief!
- Clean a toilet. Or help with cleaning the house. If that’s not your thing, offer to watch the kids while she cleans.
- Make a short visit. Not to be entertained, but to encourage and listen. Keep it short; Twenty minutes is a good visit. WARNING: sending out a visiting team during church “visitation” at 6:30 p.m. is cruel to a mom of multiples!
- Give her a one-hour break. Don’t offer to pick up things at Walmart. Let her just go walk around Walmart with a Diet Coke while you watch the babies.
- Bring a meal. Quick and easy to eat is the best option. The meals she normally eats usually involve just grabbing something out of the fridge and hoping for the best. Washed and cut up fruit is another great idea. Instead of just one meal when a baby is born, moms of multiples will need meals for months.
- Be a wingman at the doctor’s office. Hold one child while the other is being examined.
- Be a Plan B helper to help when things get crazy!
- Show up with Starbucks, McAllister’s sweet tea, or a Sonic Route 44. You’ll be loved for life!
- Give her gift cards. Multiples are expensive. Gift cards for diapers, gas, and take out are like jewels!
- Think long term. Moms of multiples need long-term help.
Having multiples takes a village. Enlisting a team of helpers for the moms to turn to and feel comfortable doing so would be helpful. Supply the mom with a list of what each woman on the team is good at doing. Consider beginning a support group for moms of multiples in your community. Sign up prayer warriors to pray for the parents and the multiples.
When moms need help, we have the opportunity to show the love of Christ in multiple ways. We can be a blessing to a mom who is against all odds!
Dr. Deb Douglas is the minister to women at First Baptist Church, Bossier City, La., and a Lifeway Ministry Multiplier, launched her first women’s Bible study at the age of 20. Her passion is encouraging and equipping women to serve. She is also a freelance writer and contributed to Transformed Lives: Taking Women’s Ministry to the Next Level, Revised & Expanded. Deb graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with a Masters of Arts of Christian Education/Women’s Ministry and a Doctor of Education in Ministry degree. She is the wife of Paul, mom of Jared and Katie, mother-in-law to Emily and Jacob, and grandmother to Caroline.