Milo celebrated his very first birthday on April 23, 2018. Six days later, I turned 25. I’ve been reflecting on these milestones for the last couple of weeks, taking stock of just how much has changed in the last year. I’ve learned countless things about myself, my motherhood and my marriage. And I decided to distill some of these lessons into a list of:
25 Things I Learned as a First-Year Mother
- When nursing sessions increase (I’m looking at you, cluster feeding), make sure to increase my intake of nutrient-dense foods.
- I can change a diaper while Milo’s up, down and all around.
- Women want more opportunities to connect with others who share the honest account of all the ups and downs.
- Using the Air Conditioner’s “fan” setting is a great substitute for white noise during bedtime.
- Be an example; Milo may not understand everything I say yet, but he can observe what I do.
- Aim to leave the house an hour before necessary so that we end up leaving right on time.
- Open-mouthed, slobbery baby kisses are actually heartwarming.
- I took my own mother for granted.
- Babies really do grow up fast! (Sometimes I think Milo looks more mature after just waking up for a nap.)
- I can learn as I go.
- Ask for what I need instead of assuming that others know.
- Invest in a high-quality nursing bra because it turns out that my nice, non-nursing bras will be out of commission for quite some time.
- Prioritize quality time with my husband. (I wish I’d come up with the Nourishing Connections Planner sooner!)
- People don’t talk about the hard parts of parenting not because they don’t experience them, but because they’re not sure their thoughts and feelings will be accepted.
- Always bring wipes.
- Pacifier clips are essential.
- I need healthier ways to relieve tension.
- Remember to spend time on feeling good AND looking good.
- My husband can cultivate his own unique relationship with our son, and he doesn’t need to do things exactly they way I would.
- LilyPadz over Bamboobies all day every day!
- I can run a business, keep house and raise a child when I plan ahead.
- When I’ve done all that I can do to comfort my baby and he’s still crying, it does NOT mean that I’m a bad mom.
- True: there’s no way to be 100% prepared for parenthood.
- Also true: there’s so much more our society could be doing to help people transition into parenthood, and I can work towards the change I wish to see.
- Life will never be the same… and that’s ok.
