Babies make us marinate in life. You are forced to dip below the surface, stop the crazy pace you were on before, take one step at a time and really get involved.
Its feels as though time has changed forever, stepping into Motherhood feels as though the time line of life has warped, its now unrecognizable but, in all the madness, sleep derivation and new ‘rules’, I love it. I feel like I am trying to do a million things at once, and I’m crazily looking for more, I’m sleep deprived, confused, tired and so deeply in love. The most indescribable emotional time in my life. Period.
I was once told that having one baby you don’t change a lot in your life and the way you live, but having more than one you’ll have to change the complete structure. My life has changed almost completely already with just the one baby, and in the short time she has been in my life. My current daily habits are light years away from what they used to be, that of the working person. No more late nights because I feel like it. No more ‘one too many’ drinks because I feel like it. No more turning my room upside down for hours on end getting ready to go out. No more quick dashing to the shops. No more just grabbing my wallet and keys and heading out. So much has changed, Ive added a whole new 'person' into my personality and life, mother.
Its a giant slap across the face, I was so unprepared, so unorganized, so disorientated. I bought all the books, read even more, talked to friends, family, even random strangers in stores (the bump is a great conversation starter), even spent hours online reading anything even slightly related to babies and pregnancy. Went to prenatal classes, pregnancy yoga, baby shops and more. Somehow none of this even remotely prepared me for reality. I found a lot is sugar coated, skipped over or its assumed you already know somehow. I really wish someone had sat me down, put it all out on the table and gave me at least a heads up on what I was getting myself into. Not birth, theres heaps of that information out there or heaps of people lining up to tell you their bad childbirth stories too. But what I really needed was someone to tell me how they felt, the emotions, the pain, the life changes, the huge and unrealistic demands a new baby has on everything. Motherhood should not be closed away indoors where no one will ever know unless you are already going through it yourself - wheres the real life story?!
I know every experience is different and different because we are all unique individuals, but really, all new mums I have spoken to feel the same. You are made to feel as though you must smile on the outside and tell everyone its going so well, when inside you are beyond stress, confused, tired and wondering what the hell you have done! Babies are like spring. They are so amazing, gorgeous, new, precious and sweet (even when crying, the cute little things) but they are also so much more than this and mums need to talk realistically with each other and friends. Friends who havent had babies yet should know what its really like.
The more information you have, the more you can prepare yourself. Instead of spending the first few months in a complete ‘am I dreaming or am I awake’, ‘I’m so tired I could just sleep forever’, ‘what am I doing wrong’ type of autopilot/zombie like phase, you can at least take comfort knowing its normal, it happens and there are solutions, real solutions to a lot of the problems that babies can cause.
The Full Time Domestic Goddess - Domestic Goddess Survival Guide
Domestic Goddess Survival Guide, tips, tricks and sassy information about the home, the baby, your body and him. How to be more efficient, managed and organised in Motherhood and include some time for yourself.