How do I bond with my newborn when I'm exhausted and overwhelmed?

Rabia al-Adawiyya knew something about showing up when you're depleted—she spent her life in radical devotion despite every difficulty. Bonding doesn't require perfection or energy you don't have. It happens in small moments: skin-to-skin contact while you're both resting, speaking softly during night feeds, noticing your baby's particular sounds and movements. These aren't effortful acts. They're presence itself. When you're running on fumes, forget the milestone checklists. Your baby needs your nervous system near theirs more than they need you to perform attachment. If you can stay present for even five minutes—really present, not scrolling—that registers as belonging. The exhaustion is real and valid. But so is the fact that your tired eyes meeting your baby's eyes is already love in action. Start there. Everything else builds from genuine presence, not from willpower.