This post is sponsored by WaterWipes. All opinions expressed below are my own and not those of the company.
This is going to sound weird, but motherhood is kind of like changing dirty diapers. It’s an all-day every day affair, it requires constant action and it can get REALLY messy. And just like you need good, dependable diapers and wipes to get the dirty job done, you need a great support system to be the best mother you can be. This has never been more apparent to me than now, as I’m raising my second baby. I still remember my first year as a parent and how difficult it was as it was also my first year as a new business owner. I quit my full-time job to pursue blogging and consulting as my main gig and a few months later, along came Cadence. I literally felt as if I was giving birth to two babies at the same time. Now, 4 years later, as I’m in my first few months being a mother of two, there are some pretty fundamental lessons I’ve learned that I wanted to share.
I’ve partnered up with WaterWipes to break some of these lessons down for you. WaterWipes are the world’s purest baby wipes and contain 99.9% water and a drop of fruit extract. Their newest #ParentIsBorn campaign is all about the idea that “When A Baby Is Born, A Parent Is Born.” For me, baby Colton’s birth in November was like a rebirth. I’m living some of the same truths I lived with Cadence all over again, but with fresh eyes as a second-time mom.
Here are some important lessons I’ve learned and am STILL learning along this journey called parenthood:
1. It will come naturally (give it some time!)
Since I was a child, I’ve always been used to being at the top of my class. I got straight A’s, I was obsessed with reading & writing and if there was something I didn’t know, I did everything in my power to figure it out. I’ve always prided myself on knowing exactly what was going on and staying a few steps ahead. Becoming a parent is like being thrust into a world of UNKNOWNS and not having a guidebook or a textbook to truly prepare you. You will suddenly feel like the dumbest person in the room, even if you’re in the room alone.
You can read every parent handbook under the sun but you’re never truly “ready” for parenthood. It hits you like a ton of bricks and it’s scary as all hell the first time around. But what I’ve learned is that letting things flow naturally is best. You can’t force your baby to latch when it’s time to breastfeed, you can’t force your newborn into a strict sleeping schedule, you simply can’t control every aspect of your child’s little life. Parenthood is a world of unknowns. So one of the biggest lessons for me upon being born into parenthood, is that things will happen naturally if you let them. Take your time, pace yourself and don’t get discouraged when things don’t go as planned. It’s all part of the learning process.
2. You CAN do this (with help!)
Nobody is expected to be great, all alone. Just like your baby needs you to achieve its maximum potential, you as a parent need a tribe and a village to reach your maximum potential. Your village doesn’t necessarily have to be your close family or partner. It can be good friends who are new parents, a dependable nanny, a cleaning lady. Anyone who is helping you do your job as a mother and making your life easier – is part of your tribe. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! For your sanity and your growth, you’ll need help. Everyone does.
3. It’s OK to make mistakes.
Think about how many times a baby will fall before he/she learns to walk. Think about how many tries it may take at nursing before baby learns to latch properly. We are so comfortable with the idea of a baby learning and growing but we think we should know EVERYTHING right away as a new parent. Give yourself a break!
You will make mistakes. Take a minute and meditate on that last sentence. As a parent, you will not do everything perfectly. You just need to do your BEST and let time and experience mold you into the best parent you can be. No one is perfect, and your little ones are not expecting you to be perfect. They just want you to be present.
I hope this was helpful for you. When you get a second, take a look at the WaterWipes #ParentIsBorn campaign (video here). It is such a true and realistic depiction of what life is like as a new parent. There are lows but SO many highs that make it all worthwhile. Water Wipes is one of the only brands that embraces both the lows and highs of parenting, and as someone who is all about transparency I had share this with you.
