My son turned 1 a few weeks ago and while it was bittersweet to say goodbye to his infancy, I can't say I'm entirely sad to see it go. My first year as a parent was filled with some of the happiest, most fun moments of my life, but it was also the year in which I experienced the most intense emotions, the most grueling exhaustion, and an unprecedented level of self doubt.
My baby has transformed from a helpless squishy little thing into a lean, mean walking machine,and in the midst of all that insanely paced development we've had our ups and downs. But now as I wrap up my first year of motherhood and watch many of my friends embark on theirs, I'm confident that I've learned much from my experience. Here are five lessons I'd like to pass on to new moms:
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Every mom worries, but most of us don't need to. I can say with confidence that 99 percent of the things I've worried about when it comes to my son, have been no reason to worry at all. Sniffles didn't mean the flu and throwing up didn't mean food poisioning. It wasn't a big deal that he napped in a swing for five months–he sleeps fine in his crib now. Weaning has been a cinch and starting solid at four months didn't cause food allergies.
Babies are resilient, it's moms who aren't. Most babies will go with the flow as long as their parents provide a strong and reassuring presence, so we all need to stop stressing out about every bump on the head, unavoidable missed nap, or change in routine. I swear it takes me twice as long to get over life's hiccups as it does my son. I'm slowly learning that because there is so little precedent in his life, he has very few expectations.
Daily trips outdoors benefit everyone. Whether it's a 30 second trip to the mailbox or an hour-long walk around town, I make sure to take my kiddo outside every day, rain or shine. The fresh air gives us both a better perspective on our day and the extra stimulation helps ready him for good sleep.
They can eat what you eat. This may not seem revolutionary to some of you, but to those of you who are dubious, I urge you to take my advice. By feeding your child real foods right from the beginning, you are setting him up to be a healthy eater in the future. Additionally, you are far less likely to end up with a picky eater if you introduce a variety of foods and flavors early on. It will save you lots of hassle when your child is transitioning from baby to toddler.
Always be flexible. Life is unpredictable, so it should go without saying that babies who are also unpredictable. No matter how great a job you've done at sleep training, putting your baby on a routine, meal plannin,g or setting a cleaning schedule, there will always be things that throw you off. Loud garbage trucks will mess up naps, unannounced visitors will show up at your door, there will come a day when you will have to drop everything and spend 30 minutes cleaning up a blowout. These things happen, it's life. Just go with the flow, have a chuckle and move on.
Image via Shayne Rodriguez Thompson
