Letters to a mum #1
From a woman who's been there... a word of advice.
Dear Sally,
A baby, how wonderful. There is simply nothing to compare to the feeling of holding your new baby for the first time. There are no words to describe the rush of emotions that run through your mind, almost from ecstasy to fear in a matter of moments.
For me I remember thinking that from now on my life would be totally different. I had overnight become a mum and this little bundle was totally dependent on me. The one thing about parenthood is that you learn on the job, unfortunately unlike a washing machine this new addition to your life did not come with an instruction manual!
My children are now grown up but I would love to share some of the lessons I learned on the journey through motherhood. The bad news is even though they are older I am still worrying over them! The good news is we are all good friends.
One of the first lessons I learned was that having another person in my life was a new experience and took time to get used to. My sleep pattern changed with night feeds and interrupted sleep, therefore I was often tired. From that lesson I learned that I needed to prioritise my days differently. I needed to realise that if I was tired I needed to rest and not try to prove myself by doing everything all at once.
Another lesson I learned which my mum encouraged me to do was to join a mums and toddlers group, it was good to mix with other mums to be able to share stories and worries together, mind you it took me a long time to realise that each child is unique and they don’t all start to crawl at the same age or learn to talk as soon as they reach the day before their first birthday! So don’t compare, it will save you a lot of worry.
One thing an older mum shared with me I found really helpful was the fact that, although this beautiful baby was totally dependent on me, try not to let her rule the house. For example I found that it was good for us to have a routine, especially at night . It was good to have the evenings as a time which was “baby free” for me and my baby. I felt routine gave her security and me sanity!
Tell your baby every day of their life you love them, never stop, and always give them time.
By the way, changing nappies was often interesting! If you have a baby boy remember to keep your mouth closed when you are changing the nappy. I learned those fountains of pee can reach high places! These times of nappy changing can also often end up in a full blown wrestling match so have fun!
PS I learned by accident that weetabix splattered into your hair by a toddler is cheaper than highlights!
’Til next time…
Written by Dianne Parsons. Posted on 13th November.
Digg it
Reddit
Delicious
Stumble It!
Furl it
