I’ve been a mom for nearly 4 years now – not a long time by any means, but long enough that I no longer feel like a total novice. Though, let’s be real: Parenting is a never-ending learning process. I had practically no experience with babies before I became a mom, so my learning curve was particularly steep.
Everyone tells you that you’ll love your baby, that you’ll be tired, that the days will be long but the years will be short. And while all of this is true, there is so much people don’t tell you. Throughout the years, I’ve been compiling a list of what I like to call “Mom Secrets.” These are the bits and pieces that you find out as you go. The good, the bad, the honest.
- Even if your baby sleeps through the night, you will never truly feel well-rested.
- Your mind will never turn off. EVER. (see above)
- If your first baby is a good sleeper, your second will definitely NOT be. No guarantees about any subsequent children.
- Your heart can and will ache and burst simultaneously. You will ache with the realization that your baby is getting older and needs you a little bit less and less each day. But you will burst with pride that your baby is getting older and growing more independent and confident each day.
- You will so very badly want a break from it all, but the minute you get it, you will so very badly want your kids back in your arms.
- You cannot do it all. For those in the back: YOU CANNOT DO IT ALL. Something or sometimes many things will have to give.
- It’s okay if you’re a little bit afraid of your baby at first. You’ll both figure it out together.
- You probably had an idealized image of what kind of parent you were going to be before you actually became a parent. Go ahead and just forget about that right now.
- Parenting is hard. Like really freaking hard. And there will be days you feel like a legitimate failure.
- It’s okay to admit there are times that you miss your pre-baby life. It doesn’t make you any less of a mom.
- When your kid is hurting, you, too, will be hurting.
- If you were emotional before parenthood, invest in a lifetime supply of tissues, because it’s only going to get worse.
- You will not enjoy all parts of parenthood, and there’s no shame in that. It’s not natural to relish diaper changing or potty training, am I right?
- You might feel like you lose yourself – or the self you used to be. Motherhood is a game-changer, and it can take a long time to truly feel like you again.
- Nothing, and I mean nothing, in the world is better than hearing your child say, “I love you, Mommy.”
- You will learn how to multitask in completely new ways. Of course, you can make dinner, entertain the baby, get the preschooler a snack, answer an e-mail, and clean out the fridge all at the same time.
- You will never truly feel like you know what you’re doing.
- Even if you’ve complained about them all day, the second you put them to bed, you start to miss those little heathens.
- There will be moments where you just can’t help but sit and stare in marvel at this tiny little person that you helped create. Motherhood can truly feel like magic.
I could go on and on, but now I want to hear from you because another Mom Secret is this: we are all in this together. What are some Mom Secrets you can share with us?
