Now she’s the mom and I got to spoil her

This post is sponsored by Luvs.

Ten years ago, my life-long friend Megan would sit for hours in my living room, cuddling my newborn to her chest or playing with my toddler, listening to me detail the prior night’s wake-ups and current day’s kid messes. Trust me, this constantly-interrupted and totally uninteresting diatribe is even less captivating if you’re happily living the single/no-kid life as Megan was at the time. Regardless, she generously gave me her patience and presence, and my kids her super-snuggly arms.

One of the many evenings my husband’s job took him to another city, Megan came for a visit and surprised me with a bag full of new bath products. She kept me company while I cried exhausted tears into the peony-scented bubbles, which–mercifully for both of us–made the bathroom smell more like a spa, and less like a state-of-the-art competitive potty-training facility.

She was always the first sitter I hired; not only because of our friendship over decades, but also because of the tenderness she constantly showed my kids. Years before becoming a mother herself, Megan possessed the unique ability to be fully present with children–whether feeding and changing them, or playing action figures.

Now, a decade later, she’s the mom of a little boy, and I get to be the extra pair of snuggling hands, the bringer of comfort, the listener, and yes even the occasional diaper changer.

When Luvs asked me to select a parent to spoil, I knew exactly who to pick. Megan is in those full-immersion mothering years that provide ceaseless moments of both wonder and stomach viruses, laughter and sleep-deprivation, motherhood soul-filling, and personal-identity-outside-of-motherhood soul-searching.

Luvs armed me with plenty of diapers for her two-year-old, and a generous gift card for my spoiling-a-parent spree. I shopped with Megan in mind and remembered back to life with a toddler. What luxuries did I crave, yet rarely if ever afford myself? It was the little things that provided an immediate lift–things that didn’t require much effort or planning lest they become yet another chore to add to the never-ending parental to-do list: a manicure and pedicure, a babysitter included for the manicure and pedicure (because why bother otherwise), gourmet chocolates. And a little lipstick really does make a huge difference to a weary lipstick lover, which Megan most definitely is, so I got her three in accordance with the mandate to spoil .

I brought Megan the gift yesterday. She cried. We all ate the chocolate. I got to read to her son and help put him down for his nap. He gave me several delicious toddler hugs. She’ll schedule that mani/pedi soon and then I’ll babysit and get even more toddler hugs. Share the love, indeed.

Luvs is encouraging parents to “Share the Luv” this February with fellow deserving parents. Also – to make sure everyone gets to share in the Luv – Luvs is offering a great money-saving opportunity with a $1 print-at-home coupon.

• Visit http://www.coupons.com/brands/luvs-coupons/ to access a Luvs coupon of $1 off any one diaper pack.
• Print the coupon at home and use it at any mass, discount or grocery stores where Luvs Diapers are sold.
• All Luvs Diapers are included in this particular offer, except trial/travel sized diaper packs.
• Print-at-Home coupons expire 30 days from the date the coupon is printed by the consumer.

Luvs Ultra Leakguard Diapers with NightLock Plus™ are softer and more absorbent than before, with large stretch tabs for easy fastening, ultra-leakage protection and a money-back guarantee.

This post is sponsored by Luvs. All ideas are my own.