This month we’ve dedicated time to talk about mental health for Mental Health Awareness Month, specifically mental health for moms.
One of the healthiest things for moms and their mental health is to know that they are not struggling alone, that others have been there, and we know what they’re going through. No matter how Instagram-perfect some moms are making it look online, we all know the truth: motherhood is hard.
In this spirit, I wanted to get very real and honest with all moms everywhere and tell you what I wish someone had told me when I was a young mom. I hope it helps you, wherever you are on your motherhood journey.
What I wish someone told me when I was a young mom…
1. Pregnancy and the first year are EXHAUSTING.
I was used to fatigue because I had to be on call every fourth night as a pediatric resident in a large hospital. But when it came to parenting, my fatigue was incomparable. I was expecting life to be “romantic” and that I would stay in love with my new baby every day. Instead, I battled enormous fatigue, anger at my baby for crying and having colic and anger at myself for not being a good mom. You are going to feel more tired than you have ever felt. That’s OK. That’s normal. It does not make you an inferior mom. It makes you human.
2. You should NEVER compare your child with a friend’s child.
It is normal to watch a friend’s child and size your child up to him. If another baby was walking and mine wasn’t, I felt bad. If another child had more words at two years old than mine, I thought I wasn’t parenting well. But this comparison doesn’t serve you or your child. Each child is unique and on his own journey of growth. Let your child be your child and try not to compare him to others.