I've been a mom for 2 months. It feels like forever and it feels like only seconds.
#1 Anyone who has a baby is an expert. BUT no one (except me and the hubby) is an expert on MY baby. I heard that to be a new parent you have to learn to take unwanted advice graciously. That was the best advice I've gotten. I've become a pro at in-one-ear-and-out-the-other listening. Just smile and nod and hold back from saying "I'm glad that worked for you, but my kid is not your kid."
I ask for advice when I want it.
#2 Watching your baby get shots and crying bloody murder is harder than labor.
#3 Hormones are the devil.
#4 Breastfeeding is an absolutely amazing thing to do. It's great for baby and mom. But it's also an extremely lonely task. A task that takes hours and hours of everyday...alone. It's the biggest responsibility I've ever had and it's hard.
#5 Learn to say no. Friends will still invite you to parties, or to go out. But it's not always practical. For one, I'm broke from doctor bills, and two I have a baby. No, I can't meet you for drinks at 8pm. Some people have a harder time learning this than others. No, I don't want to get a babysitter to go out all night...refer to #4-I have a baby to feed or my boobs will leak everywhere.
#6 Showering doesn't happen everyday.
#7 Owen technically sleeps through the night. (since about 5 weeks) We aren't sleep deprived, and YES, WE KNOW WE'RE LUCKY! :)
#8 Keep your toddlers hands off my baby! And their face out of his face! I've spent way too much time with kindergarteners to believe they have clean hands. Hand sanitizer isn't always enough...
#9 You'll fight with your husband because your tired, hormonal, feeling alone, feeling unsupported, feeling sad, feeling like anything other than yourself. While you're getting to know your new baby, you have to get to know yourself as this new person you've become.
#10 This is the best "club" I've ever joined. Being a mom is something I knew I'd be sometime in my life, but I never knew what it'd be like. I can't wait for a few others to join the mom club. I know some amazing ladies that will make absolutely incredible moms. Their future children are already lucky. The one thing moms want is for everyone else to experience the chaos, and the greatness of having a baby to call yours.
Wow! The joys of motherhood keep on going as your children grow. You experience life all over again. I was so excited for you to join this club and now watching you "feel" what it means to be a member is incredible. I'm so proud of you. You are doing a great job with Owen. It doesn't take much to join the motherhood club. But it is what you do with your membership that makes it worthy. I look forward to sharing even more as we go along.
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