It's like I was born to breed, born to do this motherhood thing and I know I'm not alone, that there are other first time mum's that have taken to this new journey in life like a duck to water; although you wouldn't think so with all of the articles about the sleepless nights, baby vomit and crying.
It's hard to relate with other mum's when the majority have had a polar opposite introduction to motherhood and it's hard not to feel a little bit guilty when you tell them of the ease of it all (they probably think we are lying anyway). At least you're not scaring woman away from having children with horror stories.
It's hard to relate with other mum's when the majority have had a polar opposite introduction to motherhood and it's hard not to feel a little bit guilty when you tell them of the ease of it all (they probably think we are lying anyway). At least you're not scaring woman away from having children with horror stories.
- Not the most painful thing - In my very limited experience child birth wasn't the most painful thing in the world. It didn't feel like I was being ripped apart or whatever other horror story you would like to use; it wasn't the most comfortable experience, but I wouldn't rank it up there as "most painful experience in the world".
Every birth is different and if I have another tiny human, maybe I might experience this so called hell…but for now just know it's not all screaming and turning inside out. - No hospital stay after birth - It was a bit hard to miss the recent shock, horror & awe that surrounded the Duchess of Cambridge after the birth of Princess Charlotte. Not only did the Duchess look amazing (thanks to her team of stylists) on the steps of the Lindo wing, but she left the hospital 10 hours after giving birth.
I can tell you first hand it is possible. If your midwife is happy with everything and you're happy to go home rather than stay in hospital, you can. I headed home 3.5 hours after giving birth and I didn't have a nursery team waiting for me, it was just my husband & I jumping into the unknown. - Being a mum CAN BE the most natural thing in the world - We aren't all wired to be mothers, but some of us are and we take to it without skipping a beat. We don't find it to be hard work and can get through a day or week without a bucket full of tears. A lot of the articles make it sound like this is a mythical legend, you know it isn't and for the love of God, don't feel bad for adapting to your new roll so well.
- Well rested - It is unheard of that you can have a newborn and be well rested, but that's probably because the parents that sing these high praises of their super sleeper baby were kicked off suffrage island. The Tiny Human has always been a great sleeper, waking once or maybe twice a night, although lately he has been having massive 10 hour sleeps at night (this is a new thing so I'm not counting my lucky stars yet).
- Motherhood IS NOT a battle & you CAN be supermum - I can already hear the hissing for just making that statement. Most blogs and articles you find (or that get the most attention) are about how hard it is to be a mother, how it is all a struggle, written because blogs/articles that say otherwise gave them [the authors] a false idea of motherhood.
The thing is, we have to stop comparing ourselves to each other. As human's we are all different (it would be a very boring world if we were all the same), our experiences and the way we deal with situations vary from one person to the next. Lists like these are written to ensure you that you're doing okay and you're not alone; and while they do exactly that for their intended audience they leave anybody outside of that audience feeling a little bit shit and disconnected.
We all want to teach our children to be themselves, unique individuals, yet we spend all of our time justifying things as to what is "normal" and trying fit ourselves & our experiences into a neat little box.
Just remember, babies don't come with an instruction manuel and there is no right or wrong way to do this parenting thing. We are all making it up as we go along and doing the best we can.
Wether you have been walking a pathway into your carpet all night or slept without a care in the world, you're doing awesome and this is your unique snow flake journey.