Diary of a New Mom

I gave birth to this adorable little boy on 2nd May this year and needless to say, my life has changed completely. Well, that’s something every mother says that her life changed completely when she gave birth to her child. To be honest, I never understood the gravity of that statement. There was a phase in my life when I thought motherhood was over hyped (whatever that means). To understand what it means to say life has changed completely, you actually have to live it. You can read books, read blogs on the internet, talk to the mothers but nothing, literally nothing prepares you for motherhood.

Disclaimer: I am not trying to frighten to-be-moms but just sharing my experience to open discussion on joys and pains of motherhood. Also, if you think you are one of those people who will end up saying “as if she is the only who has become a mother”, may be this blog isn’t for you.

Let me start with the joys of motherhood. As I write this blog, my mother is giving oil massage to my 7 week old son and he is lying on his tummy and trying to lift his head up. And I am staring at him, feeling proud that my son has achieved yet another developmental milestone. Yes, you experience these little joys of motherhood every day. You know what makes me the happiest? When my son passes gas and poops his heart out. Because it is so painful to see your little one struggling with gas in his tummy.

The other joyful aspect of motherhood is seeing your husband become a father. Your relationship with your husband transforms when you share the responsibility for this little being.  From changing diapers to feeding the baby to planning for the future, your child gives you an opportunity to strengthen your bonding and dream of a beautiful future together. And along with the husband, what’s really exciting is how the overenthusiastic grandparents take over. In my case, the great grandmother is the most excited one, waking up the little one every time he is taking a nap with one or the other excuse. Poor Maa has to run away with her crutch every time she has to sneeze or cough. That’s one funny scene at home every day.

As a new mom, I always have something to look forward to. As soon as I wake up, I look forward to taking shower and changing my dress. All through the day, I get excited seeing my little one do something new. As the day comes to an end, I wait for the husband to come home and tell me how his day at work was and then, instantly hand over the baby to him and enjoy a quiet evening.  

Talking about the pains of motherhood, there’s no denying the fact; motherhood is tiring, emotionally and physically. You see a different person when you look into the mirror. It doesn’t help when even your parlor ko didi refuses to do your waxing because you are a Sutkeri. I don’t know if it’s the same for everyone but I FEEL HOT like I have never done before. Somebody please convince my Maa that it’s ok to wear sleeveless when you are a Sutkeri. Breastfeeding, as profoundly overwhelming as it is, it is equally demanding and exhausting. I am sure bottle-feeding is not less tiring. And there’s always a pile of clothes that need to be kept in the cupboard. Apart from all these physical activities, you are emotionally drained because you miss how your life was. You miss going to work and meeting your friends for coffee or beer or wine. You miss wearing nice clothes and getting ready. I never thought I’d say this but there are days when I miss putting an alarm to wake up. As I nurse my little one and stare out of the window, I wonder how everyone around is carrying on with their life and only my life has changed completely. I don't even want to discuss the pain of having sleepless nights. That will require another blog. 

7 weeks into motherhood, I am still trying to understand my little one and myself better. I often fail miserably but I am determined to get better at it. I am no pro at this but two things have helped me. First, take care of yourself. Take short breaks during the day. Read. Take Shower. Go for a walk. Watch TV. Do what you enjoy doing. Only when you take care of yourself, can you better care for your little one. Second, find somebody to talk to. It could be your mother, a friend or a new mom you know or your husband. Having someone talk to without any fear of judgment is essential. There’s a lot going on in our mind and probably a thousand thoughts at a time, about the well being of our child, about our career and future, about our body and our relationships. Just spending a few minutes talking to someone who can understand me is definitely my daily dose of keeping my sanity.

That’s it. I just did what I had longed to do for so long. I hope you enjoyed reading it. You know it’s always so heartwarming to get a comment on your blog. 

And there my little one wakes up. Have a Good Day Folks!

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