Things I Learned in the First Six Months of Motherhood

Our family is expecting a new member some time in the next month or so: my very first nephew! (Not only do my rockin' brother and his amazing wife get to be first-time parents, but I get to be a first-time aunt! Auntie Monster, perhaps?)

It's making me feel nostalgic about my own first-timer days (which is a lot easier now that all three Monsters sleep through the night), and I came across this little bit when looking through old blog posts and baby photos.

I wrote the following list nearly four years ago - when Big One was six months old - and it held true for all three of my own kiddos. There is more (oh, so much more!), but this is a good description of our first six months as Parents.

Things I Learned in the First Six Months of Motherhood

1. Don’t Panic.

2. This, too, shall pass.

3. Move beyond the birth – in the end it doesn’t matter how he got here, just that he’s here.

4. People always tell first time moms-to-be that they can’t even fathom how much they will love their child once they are born. That that love is indescribable, and heartbreaking. They’re right.

5. You will become oddly comfortable with bodily functions very quickly. And Oxyclean is magic.

6. You will do two out of three things you swore you would “never” do. And that’s ok.

7. It’s ok to ask for help – it doesn’t mean you’re a bad mom.

8. It’s also ok to ask questions – even the “stupid” ones.

9. You really can function without sleep. But napping when your baby does can be nice, too.

10. Hormones suck.

11. There will always be someone who does things different. They will think their way is the only way. You will think they’re wrong. But there’s no point in arguing – just take care of your baby.

12. Everyone has advice for new moms. And some of it is actually pretty good.

13. Some of that advice may actually come from the dad. Not all suggestions are criticism.

14. Four-month-olds (or thereabouts) hate life. And no matter how much grandparents/friends/internet strangers may try to convince you otherwise, very few babies teethe at four months. Yours probably isn’t. He’s probably just being a four-month-old.

15. The “cannibal stage” doesn’t mean they’re teething, either (no matter how badly you want something to “blame”). They chew. And drool. They’re babies.

16. They’ll outgrow “it” by the time they go to college. Don’t stress.

17. It’s ok to take some time to yourself. A few hours a week doing something for you will help you recharge, and give the kiddo some time with someone else who loves him. In the end, it’ll make everyone a little bit happier.

18. Establishing routines does not mean having to be a militant mom, and it can actually be a big help for everyone.

19. It’s very sad to pack up the clothes they’ve outgrown. Especially when you find you can do it every few weeks.

20. Enjoy the everyday – every smile, every laugh, every little milestone. I’m only six months into this, but I have a feeling that one day these will be memories to sob over, and I’ll be glad to have them.