2019: THE YEAR OF THE NEW MOM
I’ll forever wear 2019 as a profound, metaphysical tattoo. This year began a phenomenal rebirth unlike any other: one that’s now a constant in my life - a roller coaster of transformation that will undoubtedly propel me through the varying stages of Georgie’s childhood. Even though this journey, like my daughter, is in its infancy, it’s already taught me so much. Here are the top 19 things (and the very first things!) I learned about parenthood in 2019.
My baby’s laughter is the most beautiful sound in the whole wide world. Coffee brewing is a close second.
Face masks solve more problems than you’d think.
Changing a newborn’s diaper is the easiest part of parenthood. Changing an eight month old’s diaper is like wrestling a pterodactyl.
I don’t care how much money you have, expensive baby clothes are a waste. Put that baby in a onesie and go get yourself a manicure… or if you’re the responsible type start a college fund.
Honor childbirth. If I hear one more man downplay pregnancy & labor with the condescending phrase, “Women have been having babies since the beginning of time,” I will go to jail for murder. Childbirth is a big fucking deal. We first grow babies, then push them out our vaginas or have them cut out of us. It’s physically and emotionally taxing; to this day, according to The Guardian, one woman in the world dies every other minute from childbirth or childbirth related complications. So let’s not belittle it.
Join a mommy and me group! Other new moms with kids your age… are your people now.
Ask for help. You can even formally ask for it on your registry. We had a Newborn Care Specialist/Night Nurse fund on ours and it was the best gift we’ve ever gotten.
Get some new toys and treats for your poor dog(s). They’re used to being the baby, and it’s a difficult transition for them, too. Heather has been acting like a jealous toddler for months now.
Breastfeeding is very difficult, and if men had to do it… they probably wouldn’t. Most of them act like they’re dying when they have a common cold; they’d never survive bleeding nipples and clogged ducts.
Speaking of… the pressure for women to breastfeed is bullshit. Nursing is beautiful, but formula saved my life. Specifically, Hipp Anti-Reflux for anyone interested.
Carry wet wipes and aquaphor with you at all times. In that vein, restock the diaper bag as soon as you get home. Don’t be caught out without a pacifier or a diaper when ya really need one. It sucks.
Ask your husband or partner to wash bottles and pump parts. If you don’t, you’ll get really pissy that you’re doing all the hard work and still have to clean up after yourself. Not that I know from experience. I never get cranky.
Sleep is everything. Get it. I can conquer the world after eight hours. (See here for my review of Taking Cara Babies)
A good babysitter/nanny is worth their weight in gold. Find one and go on a date night. I want Georgie to grow up knowing her mommy and daddy are madly in love.
Whenever someone compliments your baby, immediately respond, “Thank you, I made her.” Take all your much-deserved credit and bask in it.
Interview lots of pediatricians. We went with the first one we met, and had a nightmare experience, which made the first two weeks of Georgie’s life unnecessarily stressful.
Stroller phone chargers are a thing! My sister’s best friend sent me one, and I use it daily. You can also hang your purse from it. Linked here.
Have a professional install the car seat. There’s no price for safety.
Amidst all the stress and chaos of your new normal, don’t forget to stop and marvel at that perfect baby. I cried when Gerogie graduated from the bassinet to the crib. It really is true what they say: the days are long, but the years are short.
