Heh. Heh. Heh.Then the baby actually arrives.
What was that we read? What was our plan in this situation? WHY ISN'T THIS WORKING?!
The truth, as any Mama will tell you, is that no one can really be fully prepared for Mamahood. It is something that we have to, in many ways, figure out for ourselves. Every baby is different; every parent is different; and every day is different. We are all constantly in training, I'm afraid.
Don't get me wrong. It's a very good thing to read the books and talk to your friends and make plans and schedules. Just know that babies are particularly good at not doing things by the book, which isn't surprising, since they can't read.
The Stuff Mamas Like Motto: Be prepared to improvise.
Question for you: Did you feel prepared for your first baby? What surprises were thrown at you once he/she arrived?
6 comments:
I thought I was prepared, having read books and gotten the sage advice of my family and friends. In addition to that, I had wanted to be a Mama for a long time, so I was "ready." But there were things that I could not have been prepared for. The breast-feeding became a challenge for various reasons, and there were other things that we thought we were "supposed" to do that we learned were not realistic. I did learn that you have to be flexible and learn to improvise, as well as learning from others who may have had similar struggles.
Did you write this for me in particular? :) I've had so many people tell me that I am reading too many books and that the only parts I will remember are the parts that are NOT happening "right"! I'll try to remember the motto :)
I'm afraid it's good advice, even though I love the books, too. :)
Do you think I'm prepared at 35 having my 5th girl?????!!!!!?????
Nothing prepared me for Matthew's target peeing. That boy could have put out a fire ten feet away.
Nothing prepared me for being a single mother, but I became one almost immediately after giving birth, and it is strictly on-the-job training, as is most of motherhood. I had to learn to ask for help, which was advice I was ignoring.
Asking for help is a hard lesson for all of us to learn. But it's so necessary. And yes, Melissa, I do believe you're prepared!
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