(Photo: Bing Images)
Motherhood. By far, my biggest achievement of the year! To be even more accurate, my entire life!
A lot of people are asking me how I'm balancing motherhood and my career. Let's be honest here. I bounce back and forth constantly with being a SAHM or a teacher. I miss him when I'm at work and constantly stare at his picture on my desk. However, this gigantic transition has been pretty smooth because I have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes care of him and us. I also have a job that allows me to be home early enough to spend quality time with him.
I am now a mother, daughter, wife, sister, friend, and teacher. I am trying to balance it all and yet still find time for me. Not an easy task, but worth every second. It has been a beautiful year.
My sister has two children and is currently taking courses to pursue a second masters. She mentioned the fact that I need to give up something. I chose technology. I'm not on the phone much anymore, Facebook for a quick check, even my blog is suffering! Sigh.
Back to my focus, my reason for writing this. My title is Reflection and I am reflecting on what I have learned so far about motherhood. (Hopefully I don't sound too harsh!)
1. It's important not to forget about yourself. You still need some days and/or nights without the baby. What happened to the pictures of your world (ie: friends) before the baby? I try to have nights out with my husband, family, or friends without taking Jake. I love my son with my whole heart, but this still needs to happen every once in awhile.
2. Working doesn't make anyone any less of a mother. Don't feel guilty if you need or want to go back to work. There are perks to being at work believe it or not. A social worker at my school mentioned she enjoys her 40 minute lunch breaks and bathroom breaks without interruptions! (lol)
3. Ignore those that don't agree with you not breastfeeding. Congrats to all the mothers who accomplished breastfeeding. It takes a lot of time and dedication. However, you don't know why that mother is not breastfeeding. Perhaps it was an easy decision or there was a problem or complication. If you see a bottle of formula RELAX, the baby is still receiving good nutrition.
4. Ignore the milestones that other children have. I can't stand comparisons. Take a moment to compare yourself with someone that is in your life. Notices the differences? We are all meant to be different. Look different, act different, etc. Life would be incredibly boring if we were all the same. Same concept with babies. Differences should be embraced not judged.
5. Ignore the "perfect babies"!! So a baby is meeting his or her milestones, never cries, always smiles, sleeps through the night pretty much since birth, and so on. We have all met "those" before. Well I think when your kid turns 18 and is still considered perfect, then I'll high five you! :)
(One of my nephew's had to sleep in a car seat for months after birth because his acid reflux was so bad and another nephew of mine constantly cried. Both are now amazing young men who have made some impressive decisions in their lives.)
6. Best advice given to me: Do what you feel is best and when you're ready to do it. If you're not ready to take your baby out to the store solo, it's okay, TRUST ME! I had a c-section (6 weeks to recover!) and a husband who works a lot of hours and I truly didn't feel comfortable with doing this. I now live by those words given to me. Ignore what others think.......
I love my son and that's all that matters.
