What it’s like to be a parent: It’s one of the hardest things you’ll ever do but in exchange it teaches you the meaning of unconditional love. ― Nicholas Sparks
You have wanted a baby for so long. You cherished hopes that someday you would start a family. You have been waiting and waiting. Finally, your wishes have come true. You have one more member of your family. You are the happiest parent in the world. However, there is one little thing. When your beloved baby starts crying, you, on the other hand, start panicking. You are at your wit’s end. Even though you attended more than enough parenting courses, you feel as if you were watching a horror movie in a foreign language, but without the title! You see the point but you know you are missing out a lot. After a few months, you feel as if you were losing your mind.
6 Things to Give You Strength When You Are a New Parent
Do not despair! I had the same problem and I know how you feel. Now, I will give you some advice in order to help you. These things helped me deal with this kind of situation and I hope it will help you, too.
1. Your baby will sleep better
With time, you will find out what your baby like and what he/she does not like. For example, you may try rocking your baby, you may sing to him/her or you can swaddle your baby to sleep. In order for your baby to sleep better, you have to make sure he/she is warm, changed, fed and comfortable. Babies should sleep on their back. Make sure you have a sleep routine. Another advice is to dress your baby according to the temperature in the room. If your baby wears a swag, additional bedding is not necessary. My recommendation is swaddling. However, make sure you buy a swaddle in which your baby can move naturally. If newborns are swaddled so that they cannot move their legs and arms, there is a risk your baby develops hip dysplasia.
2. You will learn to organize yourself better
The key to a perfect and stress-free family is organization. And you will learn to get organized. Firstly, you should remember that you have to be patient. Getting organized does not happen overnight. Another important thing is to throw out everything you do not use. Get rid of all your belongings you have not used in a year. When you get rid of the unnecessary things store them so that you can find them easily. Finally, let your organization becomes a part of your daily routine.
3. You will learn to travel with your kid
When you travel with your child, always have some extra clothes, nappies, bottles, and blankets. Do not forget the toys! Have a CD with nursery rhymes or songs your child loves listening to. Bring along the potty. If you have a pre-schooler, your child can pack a backpack with his/her favorite things. You can departure one hour before a naptime. Children usually sleep better in a car.
4. Do not believe those who tell you there is no life after kids
I often hear from my peers that you first should live your life to the fullest and then you should have children. Even my older girlfriends believe in that. In my opinion, what I believed now I believed 10 years ago. Your life definitely changes when you have children. You are not the same person anymore. You are reborn every time your child is born. You are a changed person. As your kids grow up, you constantly change together with them. There is no life in which you only loved yourself and your only concern was to find someone to love you back. You now have thousands of different lives. Sometimes, you are a pirate, sometimes you are an explorer. Next time you find yourself cooking mud pies. Sometimes you torture your children, sometime they torture you. You can even become a writer and a poet when you make up all the stories and songs for them.
5. A life of constant creative chaos
You are so powerful in their eyes that you can do anything you want. Ah, when I now remember their smile, their pride when they make me a cup of coffee. A feeling when you hug them… A feeling of blissful happiness. On the other hand, there are times when they fight with you, when they get on your nerves. If Tesla had children, maybe he would not do what he did. Maybe he would. Maybe he would do even more. He would have someone watch his every move, checking on him. Maybe he would be more careful with his work. Who knows?
6. Do what you want to do
When they become adults, never forget that you will be alone again. Only you and your past. Because of that, do anything you want as if you did not have children. Do not complain that you do not have enough time. Write a blog, take a course, do anything you love. Teach them that they can do anything they want in their lives. It may be difficult to do something new if you have kids. They always test your power of organization and patience. But, in the end, they will always support you and be proud of what you did.
These are all my personal experiences. I hope I have helped you. Remember, everything will be all right in the end.