As a new parent, you’re going to face a lot of challenges. Some of them are a little more well-documented than others, but don’t worry; whatever challenges you’re facing, you’re almost certainly not alone. You can have some help from mom influencer out there. No parenting journey is completely unique. Every parent has had to face the same challenges you’re facing at some point, and even if there’s something totally original and individual about what you face as a parent, you can guarantee someone else has been there. Here are 10 things all new parents face, and how you can learn to deal with them.
1. No more free time
When you become a parent for the first time, you’ll quickly fall in love with your child’s infectious laugh and adorable face. However, it won’t take long before you realise you have no free time. Where before you’d spend hours checking out your Chinese horoscope and planning your day accordingly, now you have no time to do anything at all. That’s totally normal. While you can’t necessarily easily free up time for yourself, when you do get time, use it wisely and don’t squander it. Whatever relaxes you is good!
2. Tiredness
This one ties in pretty closely to having no free time. When your child is a newborn, they’ll have a fairly erratic sleep schedule, and this will persist for quite some time. As such, you’re going to be pretty exhausted. If you’ve got parental leave from work, this won’t be quite as much of a problem. If not, try talking to your boss and explaining the situation. Time off may not be allocated, but you can at least get some sympathy if you find yourself falling asleep at your desk.
3. Hunger
You’ve been carrying a baby around with you for nine months if you’re the mother. It stands to reason that something which can sap your energy like that will leave you starving. Guessing whether your baby is hungry is one thing, but remembering to feed yourself is quite another. Take snack breaks and make sure you’re picking healthy snacks that will boost your digestion. There’s no shame in the occasional treat, but remember that your body may already be flagging, so give it something nutritious.
4. Pet jealousy
Pets are not usually particularly smart animals. Sure, your dog can do some pretty amazing tricks, but the little pooch isn’t as clever as a human. When your new baby arrives, you may find that your pet bonds with them instantly, or you may find that your dog (or cat) makes a massive fuss and demands your attention. Dealing with this can be stressful. Try to make time to cuddle your pet and remind them that they are still loved too. It’s hard to make that time, but it’s worth it.
5. Social exhaustion
Everyone is going to want to see your new baby. Of course, it’s up to you whether you allow them to do this, but it’s a fact of life that people love babies and love hanging out with them. As such, this is something you’ll need to deal with. If you don’t want to make any time for anyone, that’s completely understandable and is something your visitors will need to accept. If you do, though, make sure you don’t overdo it; it’s important for you to get rest as well as to show off the new arrival.
6. A more difficult relationship
Before we proceed, it’s important to note one thing: there is absolutely no shame in noting that things with your partner have slowed or soured since the child arrived. You used to spend every moment you could find together, going out and doing exciting things, but now your little one is taking up a lot of your time. If that’s happening to you, the most important thing to do is face up to it and not allow it to infest your relationship. Couples counseling is absolutely not anything to be ashamed of. Counseling for married couples is a healthy approach to improving the relationship in a safe environment.
7. Frustration
Sometimes, bonding with your baby is not instant. There are many reasons why this might be, and if it’s happening to you, then don’t despair; give it time and it will come. Even if you do manage to build an immediate bond with your baby, there are going to be times when you feel like screaming because parenting is so frustrating. The important thing is to let it happen, but not to let it damage your life or your relationships. Give yourself time to be frustrated and don’t bottle it up.
8. Losing your sense of self
Once you’ve had a child, your whole world is going to revolve around that child, at least for the foreseeable future. It’s natural to feel like you’re losing who you are as a result of that paradigm shift. To combat this, try setting aside a little time for hobbies each day. If you absolutely can’t find spare time, then while you’re going about your daily parenting duties, try listening to a podcast you’ve been meaning to get into or listening to some music. You’d be amazed how quickly you start to feel like yourself again!
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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