My First "Ah Ha" Moment As A New Mother
- Kendra Clark
- Jul 31, 2016
- 2 min read
As a new mother, nothing really prepares you for the cocktail of emotions and mental transformation that you are going to experience. After the birth of my first baby, Austen, I instantly fell in love with my son and for the first time in my life I felt an incredible sense of vulnerability. I soon realized that though the pre-natal classes seemed to have covered a lot of topics on motherhood, there is still so much more that they never touched on. How would I handle it if anything happened to my precious baby? The attachment was very intense. Accepting that life is beyond anyone’s control is the greatest test of motherhood.
Self-Doubt
Did you know that from the moment they see their babies; most mothers start to question their ability? I remember thinking that I was being unfair to my son just because he would be awake and I was incredibly sleepy. For some mothers the panic is so real that it metamorphoses into postpartum depression. If you view it from the perspective that no one is born with the knowledge of soothing a crying baby, changing a diaper or bathing a new born baby, then you realize that even child care experts started from the lowest level and you too can grow to adequate levels of competence.
Self-Identity
The first baby you bear does not make you an expert in child bearing but in their own unique way, opens up your mind to the fact that you have brought forth a human being with their own identity and path in life. As a first time mother, it is easy to forget basic things such as sleeping, eating or taking a shower just because you are attending to the needs of your baby. I know for a fact that fashion magazines of mothers depressed me more because I could not measure up to those women. Creating a time management routine allows you to make time to yourself but you must also surrender to the fact that no mother is completely in control of their child’s unending demands.
Self-Advancement
The first weeks of being a new mother are exciting because there is seemingly a lot that needs to be done. Your friends and colleagues are coming over to visit the new bundle of joy, you are getting accustomed to the demands of this amazing little human being and you are learning your child. Then all that becomes routine and as you get less attention, you begin feeling bored. Kill the boredom by speaking to other mothers around you.
With time you realize that most of the emotions you go through as a new mum are normal and you need just enough faith to get by because others who have been there before have done it.
