On this page, we welcome to you leave any words of advice and encouragement for Sara and Mike as they start their journey into parenthood. Please comment below and leave an anecdote, a link, or your thoughts on parenting for Sara and Mike to read.
Please be sure to sign into your Google account or leave your name at the bottom so Sara knows where the comments came from!
Sara! I'm so excited for you!! Unfortunately, the only advice I have to offer is from being a cat momma. There aren't too many crossovers I can think of except that love will get you through the middle-of-the-night furballs.
ReplyDeleteHi Sara,
ReplyDeleteI've heard from moms to celebrate the small moments and to not be so hard on yourself for not accomplishing as much as you are used to. For example, has the baby been fed, bathed, and put to bed? If yes, you are a super mom! Remember, we are our own worse critique. It's ok to let some things go (like a clean house) to take the extra time to soak in baby time or play time. Those are the moments you will remember.
I've also heard that the book below is a really good book for new moms. The author talks about the missing fourth trimester. That the first 3 months of a baby's life are so important. He talks parents through The Cuddle Cure to help soothe a baby's cry.
The Happiest Baby on the Block
by Harvey Karp
Congrats on your bundle of joy that will be here before you know it!
Sara,
ReplyDeleteNot being a parent myself, I wanted to pass on a nice piece of wisdom from one of my friends when I told her the thought of having a child was scary. She said, "Well, complete idiots raise children every day, and you're not an idiot, so you'll be fine." To put it more nicely, just remember that you're a smart person and you'll do your best and that is more than enough!
Also, if you can find this album on Spotify, it got me through grad school and I think it would be great for your daughter to sleep to.
You are going to be a fantastic mother, and I can't wait for your little future librarian to get here! ;) Congratulations!
Hi Sara!
ReplyDeleteLike others have mentioned, I'm not a mother myself, so I can't speak from experience, but I do have some advice that I've heard from friends and family who have kids.
*Sleep whenever you can
*Take people up on their offers to baby sit
*Make time for yourself
*Don't sweat the small stuff
*Don't compare yourself to what other mother's have posted online. No one is perfect and every situation is different.
I'm sure you can't wait to meet your little girl. I hope the time passes quickly (but not too quickly)!
Ashley
Hi Sara!
ReplyDeleteI am so happy for you and Mike! You will be wonderful parents, and I know how much you already love your little one!
Not being a mother myself, I don't have much advice, but I'm always here if you want someone to talk with! Also, coming from my friends who are mothers... don't ever think you're doing it wrong; if your child is happy and healthy (and you too!) that is what matters!
Also, my friends are pretty good at being honest about the ups (mostly) and downs, and everything in between of parenthood. Here are few humorous articles they've posted: 12 Things Moms Should Openly Admit: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elisha-wilson-beach/12-things-moms-should-openly-admit_b_9141528.html?utm_hp_ref=parents&ir=Parents and Top 6 Wines that Pair Best with Your Child's Crappy Behavior: http://lifeasaramblingredhead.com/2015/09/05/top-6-wines-that-pair-best-with-your-childs-crappy-behavior-epic-news-for-parents/
Hello Future-Mom Sara :)
ReplyDeleteI am so excited for you and Mike, as you know very well from my continued baby ramblings during our weekly 1:1s! My advice much of which I have already shared :) includes, sleep and take care of yourself as much as possible (happy mom, happy baby) let others do the daily tasks as much as possible, prep meals in freezer prior to birth, video, take pictures, record as much as you can it goes very quickly especially the first year! More than anything enjoy the special bond you have with your new little one, it is truly amazing!
Best Wishes!
Beth
Hello Sara (and Mike!),
ReplyDeleteIt won't be long before you get you meet your new bundle of joy! First bit of advice--go out to dinner, see a few movies before your new "boss" arrives :) Actually, life does not end when you become a parent--it only gets more exciting! Get ready for the roller coaster ride of parenthood--I know that you will enjoy every minute of it!
As I reflect on my experience as a new mom, I wish that I had:
1. accepted every offer for help from a (grand)parent. We thought that we would have it all under control and boy, were we wrong!
2. slept every time the baby slept in those initial weeks. The house work will get done...some day!
3. relaxed and enjoyed the moment. You will be amazed at how quickly your baby will grow and change. Try to record as much as you can--and remember, even those not so fun stages (mixing up day and night, teething, diaper rash) resolve quickly
4. carved out more time for just my husband and myself. Life can become so busy with a new little person in your life. Remember to take care of each other too.
Enjoy this new phase of life! Hearty congratulations!
Suzanne
Hi Sara--I'm not a mom (and I don't play one on TV), but I can share something I learned from the many mom and baby clients from my time in the ECE field. Here is what they taught me about motherhood: TRUST YOUR GUT. When you become a mom, you're also given a special kind of protective instinct to help keep your baby safe. LISTEN TO IT.
ReplyDeleteI am so excited for you and I know you'll be a great mom! Have a blast!
Tammy :-)
Sara,
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of kids in my life, but none of my own, and I hear that it’s radically different when they’re your own. I’ve watched in the wings as those around me have started their families, and it all seems so bittersweet, beautiful and fleeting. Enjoy as much of it as you can, and be good to yourself when it’s difficult.
Your shower has aligned perfectly with Mother’s Day, and it occurred to me to look to StoryPeople by Brian Andreas for some inspiration. I prefer his words to mine under most circumstances. Enjoy:
http://www.storypeople.com/2013/12/16/bittersweet/
http://www.storypeople.com/2013/12/16/falling-into-place/
http://www.storypeople.com/2013/12/16/hindsight-mother/
Now for a rather random selection of recommendations:
-Find good kid music. It will be your music for a while. As an example if this is your kind of catchy:
http://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/kimya-dawson-alphabutt
-My stepsister used Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleepsuit for my nephew and swears by it. It’s a little reminiscent of the kid in a snowsuit who gets stuck in a snowbank in A Christmas Story, but if you need it and it works, who cares?
http://www.magicsleepsuit.com/pages/faq
Congratulations, and enjoy this new chapter!
-Cassandra
Sara,
ReplyDeleteHmmm, advice about motherhood?
There is no one right way to do anything.
Do whatever works for you and not what everyone thinks you should do.
Spend less time worrying about the messes, and more time living in the moment.
Children all develop at their own pace.
As soon as you figure out what your baby needs or wants they move on to the next phase!
Enjoy every minute (even the frustrating moments) because they soon turn into memories.
For me, being a mom is the most important thing I will ever do or be. It is the hardest and most rewarding thing I have ever done. :)
Congratulations!