As a new parent, there are a million ways to be hard on yourself. Here are three things I tell myself to find some grace.
“It’s hard to be a baby.”
When my son fusses for what seems to be no reason or bursts into tears at the drop of a hat, I remind myself that I can’t understand the feeling of physically and mentally developing so quickly. It must be tiring to experience everything for the first time.
So when I comfort a gassy baby at 3 in the morning, I take a deep breath and say, “I know. It’s so hard to be a baby!”
“Yes!”
Some sayings stick around for a reason. It really does take a village. New parents should accept all the help they can get.
Has a coworker offered to bring us dinner? Yes, please drop off a pasta dish! A friend’s mother, whom I met once, wants to send clothes? Yes, we need more onesies! Even though I want to be able to do it all on my own, I need help.
“I’m not the baby expert.”
My baby is fine and well taken care of, especially when he is with his father. I find myself anxiously wanting to butt in when they play a little too close to the edge of the bed or watch high-stimultation YouTube videos like “Cocomelon.”
But, I don’t want to be the baby expert. I don’t want to be the only person in my house who can solve a problem. So, I say to myself, “I’m not the baby expert,” and leave the room.
Sharlene Birdsong is a new mom who is a little bit crunchy and a little bit rock ‘n’ roll. You can reach her at sharlene.birdsong@mirrorindy.org.
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