Dear Younger Mom Me,
I have so much I want to tell you.
There will be SO many decisions you will make just in the first year of your new baby’s life. You will fret over most of them. But you won’t need to. You actually do know what’s best for you and your baby.
There will also be SO many well-meaning people in your life who will give you advice, tell you their stories, and offer to help. But keep in mind, not all advice is good advice, not all stories will be encouraging, and not all help is helpful.
That being said, you will receive some amazing, insightful advice that will save your sanity when you think you have lost it. Some of the stories you will hear will dissipate that feeling of isolation you have when you are feeling all alone. And some of the help offered will renew your weary body and soul.
The key, Younger Mom Me, is trusting your gut. We as women and moms don’t trust it nearly as much as we should. We have this wonderful, God-given gift, that intuitively tells us what is right and what is a little off. I will tell you, you can never make all the right decisions all the time. Sometimes you may have regrets about your choices because there really isn’t a “right” decision, or because you didn’t trust your gut.
There are days ahead that will be hard. Your child will stay stuck in a frustrating phase that will seem to last forever. But, you will realize it’s only a blink of an eye when looking back. Sometimes, you might forget about it all together. You, and your child, need that struggle to accomplish the beauty of learning.
There are days ahead you will not want to ever end. Your child is a gift. His growing, learning mind is simply amazing. Soak that all up. Write all their funny quotes down. Take all the pictures. Those memories will lift your spirits when they are no longer quite so cute.
Because you see, before you know it, long before you are ready, they grow up.
Your child will start figuring out this independence thing. Those days when you were needed all day every day start fading into the past. There are some amazing things that happen when you transition to this phase. Don’t get me wrong, your children will always need you, but it’s a completely different dynamic when they reach their teenage years.
You will look back fondly on this busy, crazy, sleep-deprived time of your life. The nostalgia will at times completely overwhelm you. Don’t feel guilty cherishing this time in your life. Don’t get overcome by feelings of inadequacy. Believe me when I tell you you are enough. You really are.
Oh, and before I go…don’t forget to take care of you. Like I said, reaching out for help will be one of the best things you can do when things become too much. Do the things you like to do, and don’t feel guilty about it. It will make you a better mom and it will show your child who you are. Don’t be afraid to show them who you are. You are wonderful. And you are enough. Never forget that.
With much love and fondness,
Your Older Mom Self
