I am about 4.5 months into my new mommy journey! Becoming a parent comes with challenges and lessons learned some harder than others. In this short span of time, I have come to the realization of five truths for new parents.
Five Truths For New Parents
You are going to be tired
I knew before having my daughter that having a baby would mean being tired. I didn’t understand until having her just how tired I would be especially in the first couple of months. Babies mean waking up in the middle of the night for feedings. It means your sleep schedule is thrown out the window. Even when they do start sleeping through the night there’s sleep regression. Throw in anxiety that may keep you up even when they are sleeping. I’ve been told this doesn’t end. Tiredness I am learning is part of the new role of parenthood and to focus on it is not going to make anyone any less tired. Tired as you may be, the moments you spend enjoying your child are well worth it.
It’s harder to do it alone than with others
Teamwork makes the dream work. It takes a village to raise a child. I’m sure you’ve heard this before. Sure you could do it alone but why when it’s so much harder? It may take time to find the right people to help support you and your child. However, it’s better to be surrounded by support than isolated on an island.
You should ask for help
This is not the same thing as having support. You can have support and never ask for help. Asking for help is hard especially for me. Asking for help requires humbleness and relinquishing one’s pride. That can be challenging. Asking for help does not make you weak, needy, or less than. The worst anyone can say is no.
It’s ok to make mistakes
Whether it’s your first or fifth child every child and the experience you have with them is unique. No parent is perfect. You are going to make mistakes. When you make mistakes, apologize if necessary, learn from them, and correct them. It is going to be ok.
Progress or find history repeat itself
Becoming a parent requires changes within ourselves. We all have been affected for better or worse by our parents. From the helicopter parent to the absentee parent and every parent in between, our parents shape us. It is our responsibility as parents to improve ourselves as parents for our children. If we do not progress as parents, our children will more than likely find themselves much like we were as children. Improvement can not be achieved without progress.
