I recently spent a little bit of time around a group of first time moms with their newborns. For many this may have been their first time out to see other moms and I was reminded of my first few months with E.
E at 1 day old
What if I screw him up for life?
That is one of the concerns that plagued me as a new mom. I loved my child and I read tons of books on parenting, but I was still worried that somehow I would mess up my child. Isn’t that a fear that we all have as parents?
Here are something things that I did as I tried to figure things out during the first few months of E’s life and many I continue to do.
1. Read and reread parenting books.
As I mentioned in my first post, I have a few favorite books.
2. Meet and chat with other moms regularly.
Like at BABS Parent-Baby Playtime
3. Observe and ask questions of people with similar parenting styles.
4. Do something outside.
5. Trust your instincts!
E and a friend at our first playgroup outside BABS
I am fortunate enough to live in a community that has a Parent-Baby Playtime where I could go where moms could just hang out and relax and talk to other moms. I think this probably had more of an impact on my postpartum sanity than I realized at the time. Just to be able to sit with other moms who are experiencing all of the same things was a huge help in knowing that I was not alone in what I was going through.
I still wonder if I am making the right parenting decisions. Should I have him in daycare full time? Do I allow him to watch too much television? Did I handle this or that situation right?
It’s three years later and I still need to chat with other moms regularly. Sometimes, I meet them without the kids for a quick lunch and other times it’s a play date with a bunch of toddlers running around. We still get together and find ourselves saying “I’m glad I’m not the only having that problem” and can share stories and advice from other moms in a similar situation.
What was your biggest concern as a first time parent?
