5 Things I learned in my first year of Motherhood

I just celebrated my first year in motherhood and my second Mother’s Day. Here are 5 lessons I learned in that time that I think many other mothers can relate to and if you're reading this as a mother-to-be I hope this gives you some peace of mind and some things to look forward to.

1. You feel like you're supposed to do it all by yourself. You're not. Becoming a Mom is a big responsibility and as the person who made and carried your baby, it can feel like it’s solely your job to nurture and care for your baby. This is so wrong these kinds of feelings can come from society ourselves, or just other people in general. It takes a village to raise a child and to support a mother. There’s nothing wrong or weak about needing and asking for help. You deserve help and you’re a better stronger mother when you’re taken care of.
   

2. You May Not Always Feel Connected To Your Baby And That is Okay Becoming a mother comes with a plethora of physical and emotional changes regardless of how you gave birth or how you choose to feed your baby. You just met this new little human and the both of you are going through enormous changes every day! So if you don’t feel like you connect to your baby in those early sleep-deprived days don’t sweat it. Give yourself the grace to learn your baby and the new you. Don’t be ashamed or scared to reach out for professional help if you have thoughts or emotions that worry you or last more than a few days.

3. Your Baby Is Different From Everyone Else’s Baby. So Do What Works For You And Your Baby Every person on Earth has different preferences and feelings. Even though your baby is new here on Earth they are still individuals. As they grow you will notice their personalities emerge and evolve. So you can listen and hear advice from others but ultimately it is your choice to implement it in your life or not.

4. You’ll Have A Whole New Set Of Boundaries And People Will Push Them Remember those changes I told you about earlier, well this is where they can come into play again. You will want to raise your baby in your way and find your footing in motherhood. Especially if this is your first baby. People will have their own opinions and thoughts on this. From family to complete strangers you will probably hear some unsolicited advice about what you should and shouldn’t be doing. You’ll have to lay some ground rules down for the people who will be around your baby. You don’t have to justify yourself with anybody else and if people don’t respect your boundaries they don’t need to be around you or your baby/family. Boundaries are meant to establish trust closeness, and overall well-being in relationships.

5. You've Never Loved Anything Or Anyone As Much As You Love Your Tiny Human If you’ve ever seen How The Grinch Stole Christmas then you know the iconic scene where the Grinch’s heart grows 3 times. That’s how it feels every time your baby smiles, laughs, or looks at you with those eyes full of love. And it never stops. They are truly your heart living outside of your body. This tiny human that you grew, carried, birthed, and care for every day is your own personal miracle.
   

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