You can read all the books and watch all the videos, but there are aspects of your first year of motherhood that nothing can prepare you for. Becoming a new parent is a monumental, and wonderful, life change that you will gloriously transition into.
It’s going to be hard and challenging but it’s such an amazing experience. Here are some things you didn’t know about the first year of motherhood:
1. Not All Babies Are the Same
Instead of reading about babies, take the time to get to know your baby. Only then will you understand their development and growth as well as their habits and personality.
While certain development milestones, such as rolling over and laughing, have age-related guidelines, every baby grows at a different pace.
2. You’ll Get Used to Repetition
Babies know what they like and they’ll want access to it ALL. THE. TIME.
That means you’ll be reading the same book, singing the same song or watching the same videos over and over and over.
But you know what? You get used to it. Singing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” for the 40th time in one afternoon is going to become less and less tortuous as time goes on.
3. You’re Going to Feel Like You Suck At Parenting
You are going to have good days and bad days. Sometimes you’ll feel like you’re rocking the parenting things while other days you’ll feel like a complete #MomFail.
You’ll do things wrong but you will also do a lot of things right. When I had my daughter, a good friend of mine gave me this advice: “As long as you don’t drop or sit on your baby, you’re doing okay!”
4. You’re Going to Get Unwanted Advice
Everyone has an opinion, especially about parenting. Most people mean well – those unsolicited advice-givers are simply trying to help based on their experiences and what worked for them.
However, you know your baby better than anyone and you are in control of how you want to be a parent. A simple, “Thanks for your advice, but I got this,” can go a long way.
5. Everything Mom-Related Will Make You Cry
The news, pregnancy announcements, miscarriage – everything you see and hear that is related to being a mom is going to give you feel.
When you enter motherhood, you develop a deep sense of empathyhttps://cyberparent.com/wellness/fill-your-bucket-gratitude-kindness-and-empathy/ for other mothers. Only moms can truly understand other moms. So when another mother is experience extreme happiness or sadness, you are right there with them.
6. You’ll Have Your Soul Exposed
Emotions you thought you had a handle on – love, sadness, happiness – are going explode ten-fold after you become a mother.
Babies expose your soul and you become capable of feeling emotions on a deeper level you never thought possible.
7. You’re Going to Be Exhausted
I don’t mean just very tired – EXHAUSTED. You’ll learn a whole new level of fatigue.
You’re body just grew and pushed out another human and now you are responsible for nourishing and caring for it.
The good news is that, as time goes on, you will get used to it. It may be hard to believe now, but you’ll adjust to having less rest than before motherhood.
8. You’ll Learn True Selflessness
When you bring a wee one into the world, they become your top priority. Nothing you need or want matters if your baby needs to be taken care of.
You’ll learn as a mother that you will do anything for your little. Just don’t forget to take care of yourself as well – you can’t pour from an empty cup!
What have you learned during your first year of motherhood? Share in the comments below!
