The Monterey Bay Aquarium has a Great Nursing Lounge. And Holding Her was Perfectly Ordinary.

We made this video together in 1 take after I realized that the last time had happened. Everyone knows that you don't get to swoop up your kid, or wear them forever.

When she wanted a boost up to view through the scope outside that sees across the bay, but the way I held her hurt her abdomen. We collaborated a solution, so she stood on my thigh as I knelt. That gutted me. The last time must have been heavy and ordinary. I couldn't remember the last time I held her, and I knew that it was never going to happen again. She's grown in inches and girth and mind and soul. She's 11 and cuddly and affectionate. My mindfulness practices have allowed me to experience the joy of her with pure gratitude. I've got the human monkey brain-It only lasts moments. Those moments of gratitude and connection string together into a network that acts as a net which holds my instinct when I'm triggered. I get to respond lovingly more often than ever before. More often than when she was a nursling and I had a toddler and I was battling undiagnosed MS. Reader: make friends with your nervous system while you have this fountain of oxytocin and serotonin otherwise known as feeding a baby.

The Monterey Aquarium has a lovely nursing lounge, which is good because I barely saw anywhere to sit and feed a baby. The auditorium has engaging films on schedule. Think nursing in a movie theater. There is seating on the lower level where my youngest (11years old as of writing this Spring Break 2023) insisted on taking this photo of turtles

Turtles Swimming in the Monterey Bay Aquarium

We found this sign on the way to the bathroom on the second floor.

The sign outside the Nursing Lounge on the second floor

Inside is quiet, clean, comfortable and private. Several cubicles with recliners are on the other side of the partition on the right, and relaxing footage of jellyfish floating is playing on the screen

Several cubicles with recliners are on the other side of the partition on the right, and relaxing footage of jellyfish floating is playing on the screen .

While you are here, know that I am happy that you get to feed your baby. Whatever that looks like. What I would give for just 1 more 4yo bath time, one more contact nap, one more walk with her strapped to my back. It is a finite privilege. Thanks for reading.

Carly.