Enjoy the Smell (and Better Warnings for Moms-to-Be)

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Motherhood is eye-opening. It’s also wallet-opening, sleep-denying, and mess-making. Yes, of course people warned me about this. Everyone did.

We are in that stage of life when everyone is pregnant and popping out babies. So when our time came to welcome our little girl, everyone also popped out advice and warnings. Fear immediately set in with the rules and worrying.

My husband and I have nine nieces and nephews with two more on the way. These little people brought so much joy into our lives so becoming parents was a natural progression for us. I truly believed these kids were the best kids on the planet.

Then I had my own. Our little girl is just over 2 months now. It’s mind-boggling to know this is how all moms walk around feeling.

Why didn’t anyone tell me? No one told me that their kid is the best. But I know that’s what they think. Because I do. Although I still think my nieces and nephews are heaven-sent, they will never be my own. Because they are their parents’ own!

They were right about the sleep deprivation and the spit-up. But no one thoroughly warned me of the joy. They say you never know the love of being a mommy until you are one, but is this because we haven’t done justice in advising moms-to-be?

I wasn’t told that nine diaper changes a day could be play time instead of a punishment. That waking up before Daddy meant I got the morning smiles instead of just less sleep. I got so many warnings about the negative with hardly any on the positive moments that would happen (and when something positive did happen, it is fleeting!).

I think there are better warnings we can give moms-to-be. Like even though everyone won’t have the love for your child that you do, you can still think they are the best. I walk around admiring the miracle of my girl often; I made this person who smiles and giggles! And her dad contributed to the fact that she poops a ton.

Here’s some more advice – slow down and enjoy the smell (rough transition from talking about poop). Since everything is a phase (the phrase usually used as motivation through long-nights and bad tempers), enjoy every phase! Even though I am covered in spit up, I change my shirt and take a big whiff of my baby’s fading newborn smell. I roll my eyes getting out of bed for the third time to feed but stay awake for the extra ten minutes to watch her smile in her sleep. Don’t wish the phases away.

Lastly, since, “The days are long but the years are short,” let’s take advantage of these long days everyone warned about! There will be time to wash bottles and spot treat pajamas; remember to get on the floor often and spew toys endlessly. The fun will energize you to conquer the rest of the long day.

Being two months in, I know I am no professional. Maybe I just haven’t hit rough enough waters yet. But, I already expect everything to be better than everyone warned. Every mom knows the positives outweigh the negatives, let’s make sure moms-to-be know it, too!

Except labor. That was just as bad as they all said.

2 COMMENTS

  1. Well I usually save articles to read them later. However, later never comes. Today I decided to read your blog and I actually got teary-eyed. I am now first time mom of a 2 month old little girl as well!! I love every bit of what you said in your blog and how true it is!!! Thank you so much for your words because they are my feelings that I couldn’t quite get into words!

    I also started a blog a year ago and time just got away but maybe I should start writing again and these feelings will find their way to the keyboard! Thanks for your inspiration and honesty!

    • Thank you for reading! 2 months seems like a long time in mom days! I’m sure the best is yet to come!

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