1. Mommies are superheros. Seriously. When I pictured being a mom during pregnancy, it was all of the rewarding times - looking down on him while he was eating, knowing that he relied on us for his care, watching him smile in his sleep, going on walks and taking trips to the park. All those things are great, but boy, being a mom can be overwhelming! Mother's Day should be once a month and should consist of a full 8+ hours of uninterrupted sleep and getting waited on all day (no cooking or cleaning!).
2. Being out of your comfort zone is OK. After having Ethan, I began to realize that I rarely get out of my comfort zone. I've been married for 6 years and had the same job for 8 years; I was perfectly happy living in that comfy zone. I have rarely been around a newborn and all the baby books and research could not have prepared me for being so scared of the "new" things. Add an overload of homrones and I was an emotional wreck for the first week.
3. Guilt is unnecessary. I struggle with this the most. It is so hard to know if you are doing things "correctly" and sometimes it feels like a good Mom should know what the right thing to do is. It's pretty scary to be solely responsible, as parents, for another person's life. I worry about every little thing and find myself questioning my abilities. I know it isn't productive, so I'm trying to work on just doing the best I can and leaving the guilt behind.
4. You need a partner. I cannot imagine going at this alone. It takes both of us, committed to the work, to care for Ethan and keep the house running smoothly. Thankfully, I have a wonderful husband that doesn't mind changing diapers, feeding the baby, doing laundry, provides reassurance (the most important thing!), and will give me a break when I'm stressed.
5. Sleep isn't overrated. I am surprised by how my body can function on such little sleep, but emotionally, I need that sleep to not be cranky. Broken sleep, even if he naps (something he doesn't do much of!), definitely isn't as refreshing, but these days I'll take what I can get. I had no clue I would began appreciating naps so much.
awe, I love that you posted this. so amazing to read a new mommy realize all of this so early! you are doing a great job being a new mommy! don't be so hard on yourself and never hestitate to ask for help if you need it. asking doesn't mean you are weak. he's perfect and your and pat are doing a wonderful job.
ReplyDelete