If you are reading this then you have most likely recently become a new Mummy, so a HUGE congratulations to you!
The years have flown by since my little one was born (3.5 years to be exact) but in some ways it also feels like a lifetime ago
Becoming a new parent can feel so overwhelming, with a huge mix of emotions - positive and negative. It can sometimes be hard to know what to do for the best, and you really do feel like you are completely winging it.. because in all honesty, you are!
No one goes into it being an expert. We learn and we grow with our little ones, getting to know each other and what works for us and our baby. Learning what certain cries mean, learning what is best for them and learning who they are. These are all things that we pick up along the way as our motherly instinct (that feeling in your gut) becomes stronger and we learn to trust it more and more
The beginning of motherhood was quite an anxious one for me (for many reasons such as it being my first baby, being in lockdown and just generally being quite an anxious person).. but this is also very normal. I just wish I was given more advice on being able to trust my instincts and to take one day at a time rather than seeing everything as being much bigger than it was
So I wanted to put together a simple list of some advice from me to you, that may help you along the way
Firstly, just to say, YOU are doing great, Mama!
✨Take one day at a time - Looking at the week or month ahead can be daunting and seem like you have a mountain to climb, with a thousand other things going on in your head. So just take one day at a time, doing one task at a time, and you will get there
✨Don’t set high expectations or put pressure on yourself - Having a vision of being super-mum is just not practical, and comparing yourself to what you see on social media is not healthy either. So don’t set high expectations of yourself or you will push yourself too much and get burnout quickly
✨Take some YOU time - A chance to take a break, refresh and reset is needed, so try to make this a priority any time that you can
✨Accept help if needed - There is nothing weak about accepting help. If it is offered to you then take it, and if not then ask for it… even if it’s just to give you a chance for a walk alone, a nap or a bath
✨Embrace even the hard times - Times can seem very hard and overwhelming, but remember that feeling won’t last forever
✨Only ever do what is right for you and your baby - you can get advice, read books and chat with other Mums about your concerns.. but in the end you must learn to trust your gut and do what is right for you and your baby, as we are all different and what works for one might not work for another
✨Don’t compare yourself or your baby to others - When we are new to parenthood and we don’t know what to expect, it can be very hard. We often compare ourselves to other Mums, and can sometimes even compare our babies to others that we know. This may be regarding how ‘great’ they look, or how ‘together’ they appear to be, or even the development stage of their baby compared to yours.
But try to forget about what others are doing, and what stage their baby is at.. because we are all different, we all grow differently and we learn differently
✨Live life in the moment - sitting there playing with your children with your mind somewhere else? Thinking of that load of washing or pile of dishes in the sink? Your little ones are only small for a short time, so try to live in the moment, and all of the other things can wait
Keep going Mama, you’ve got this!!
Author: Annie Allen
Professional Photographer specialising in maternity, newborn, baby, birthday and family photography
Aldershot Hampshire based (covering Guildford, Farnham, Camberley, Woking, Reading, Basingstoke and Bracknell areas)
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