As my f__irst year of motherhood__ is about to come to a close, I keep thinking of things I would have done differently or things I wish someone would have told me before I became a mom. The only regret I actually have is that I spent so much of my son's first year of life stressing out about things that ultimately mattered very little. I've already shared my top five rules for surviving the first year, but here are six more rules to help keep you from having the same regret:
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1. Remember that each day brings new mercies. So you had an awful day. Try to let it go and remember that you get to try again tomorrow. Sooner rather than later, you will be having more good days than bad days. It all seems awful in the moment, but nearly every difficult phase is just a blip in the span of our lives.
2. Cuddle more. I wish I could bottle the power of baby cuddles and hand it out to every sad or depressed person in the world. They are like magic, so make sure you take the time to enjoy them. When your baby won't go down for a nap for the third time in a row, try engagine in some intense cuddle time, it will likely make the world a better place for both of you.
3. Let your partner parent too. As moms, most of us feel all the pressure in the world to meet every single one of our baby's needs–make all the decisions, be involved in all the interactions etc. But your partner deserves a chance to take on some of the parenting responsibilities as well. They will have a unique perspective on things and can help take some of the burden off of you.
4. Make mommy friends. You will have baby on the brain all the time, and your non-mom friends may tire of you constantly talking about your baby and your experience as a mother, but chances are, friends with other kids will feel relieved to be around another person that is in a similar phase and will understand your obsession with getting your baby on a schedule or which foods are best for baby's first solid meals.
5. Take lots of pictures. Capture even things that you don't think are important–it will help you remember all of the nuances of your baby in his first year of life. Oh, and make sure you are actually in some of the pictures with him! When he's older he will love seeing you engaged with him as a baby.
6. Just relax. Most of your concerns will prove to be for naught. if your baby still isn't rolling over at five months, he'll probably do it at seven. He won't die because he ate a nugget of dog food or licked the floor you haven't mopped since before he was born. Just because he can't stand spinach at six months old, it doesn't mean he won't eat it later in life. And yes, you are doing enough to encourage his development. Just take a deep breath and remember that all babies do crazy things and they each grow and develop at their own pace.
Image via Shayne Rodriguez Thompson
