I know parenting isn’t easy, no instructions there. I know when I become a mom, I just loved the thought of having my own baby. One I could love and be all mine. I just knew that I would love it, have my own little family. Even if it was just me and my baby. Cause I was a young mother, and didn’t know if the father would be there with me or not.
Being a Young Mom was Tough
A young mom of a newborn baby I thought would be fun. But you know what, it sure was tough. Now, it is not for the girl that is too wimpy to handle it on her own. Because I know I handled most of all the tasks for my baby on my own. My little boy needed so much, and I thought parenting isn’t easy. Trying to take care of him without neglecting his needs. What did a baby need, emotionally and physically.
What does a newborn baby need:
- food -formula or breastmilk
- baby bottles if formula feed (as my boy was)
- crib
- stroller
- clothes
- sheets for the crib and towel for bathtime
- baby carrier for going on walks
- blankets
- diapers-I chose cloth diapers(economical and reusable)
- Receiving Blankets (spit ups, and for placing baby down anywhere)
- diaper bag
That is some of the things needed. I didn’t add safety pins for diapers. Or tylenol for a teething baby, or a pacifer if needed. A small chair to hold baby in when you can’t. Some little things I never even knew about. Until I needed them, cause it would make life so much easier.
Things a Young Mom should Know
I know when I was a young mom, I loved the beginning of motherhood. Baby slept always and I had alot of free time. Till my baby was about a month old, then it all changed. I had a cranky newborn baby, and didn’t know what to do. Or maybe it was teething? I didn’t know what to listen for in a cry. That was a learning curve, I eventually could after it all. I was stressed out and tired, and had no one to help me so I could nap.
Mom needs to rest when she can, and enjoy quiet time when she can. If someone says they will help you, let them. Don’t act like your fine and you don’t need help. Take it. Babies sure don’t come with instructions, and no one tells you what to expect.
I had a tough time when my son was cranky. I didn’t know what I would do, that was my breaking point. I didn’t know babies could cry so much. I did everything I could, I eventually just let my baby cry as we went for a walk. Others looked at me and said been there. And they offered me help on how to soothe my baby. And I was doing the right thing-fresh air was good, and with all the traffic no one could here the cries.
Struggles We Parents Have
I never really thought much past, just having a newborn baby. I knew I had to care for it. But I never really thought past that thought, cause babies to grow up. YOU ARE THE ONE THEY LOOK UP TO. Never thought that when I first had my baby. I just was excited to be a mom, with a baby of my own!!
Parenting Isn’t Easy
I know when I was raising my son, no one helped. I figured it out on my own, and my son turned out great. Many suffered the struggle I did, they had to wing it too. So of course, they didn’t think they should help me, but make me figure it out.
But after that, I learned more about my baby as time passed. Went to the health unit or community building for parenting meetings. Basically, anything I could learn or talk with someone about what I needed to do for my baby. No internet back then had to rely on others or my library for books about babies.
When My Son Was Little
I always tell my son, I did the best I could raising you. My mom didn’t see that she had to help me with anything. She didn’t have her mom there to help her with me. So she decided she wasn’t going to be there for me. I would ask a question, I would get a standard answer. No help at all.
She made me figure it all out on my own. Especially when he wasn’t eating. I didn’t know how to get him to eat. Or even how to make him go to sleep, and in his own crib too. That was hard too.
As long as you pay attention to where you think you made a mistake, and learn from it. Move on, not to do it again. Find a better solution and you will be fine.
As I Got Older it Got Easier
I have had 5 kids all together, and I know when I had my second son it was better. I knew what to do, and with each other baby it got easier. I knew what to do right away and wasn’t thinking parenting isn’t easy. Cause now it was easy, I had no issues or had a problem I couldn’t solve. I was no longer scared or worried. Kid fell down I was ok, and knew what to do. A baby got a diaper rash I knew what to do, or wouldn’t go to sleep. I knew what to do and was not stressed out.
Even learned how to sleep through the cries. When I knew they were just tired and I did all I could do. I was calm as ever and all was good.
My Daughter has a Baby of Her Own Now
I am there for my daughter, who now has a newborn baby of her own. And no I did not make her go and do it on her own. I didn’t want her to experience what I had. To basically do it all on your own. I was there for her, right from the very beginning to when she told me she was pregnant. To now, in helping her with anything she doesn’t know how to do. Or what she should do. Even though she searches up on the Internet, she still values my opinion.
She loved the thought of having a baby, up til the part of giving birth. Scared her and frightened her all at once. I was there when she gave birth, and up until she had to have a c-section. She loved that I was there for support and was there after. I did remind her parenting isn’t easy and it is something you will need to learn.
As I look back, she has done very well. Her two babies are now 3 and 5 and are doing great. I am here if she needs me, just a sounding board for her. But she may have some struggles and sometimes I see them, but its a learning curve. Then all is good again and she learned more about each child’s learning ability. Or maybe more of their personality. Cause that is a whole nother thing to talk about.
Your child has their own personality, and are all not the same.
Had This Talk With My Daughter
When my daughter and I were talking about her having a baby. I was telling her now that she was going to be a mommy she has to know now that she will have her own family. That part of being a new mommy was not quite sinking in. She would be a family with her boyfriend and their new baby. She would have to take care of their needs and her own.
I said I will always be there for her if for anything she needs me to help with her questions or just to have me there. I was all in, for all of what she needed me for. This was all new to her and she would have many questions and I am there for any of them. She knows parenting isn’t easy, and always asks me how did I do it. I did alot of reading and going to mom groups and just knew I had to do it, cause no one else would.
I said I am here for you, you have a question I’m here. Or just needed to talk, I am here. Cause this is something that I know she would need, cause I sure did. We all learn in the beginning, and being a mom is a great skill to learn. Your parenting your own little beings to be the best that they can be.
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