For the longest time, I never really thought about becoming a mother. When I was 25, my boyfriend (at the time) asked me how many kids I wanted. That was the first time I thought about being a mother or parenting. As years passed, I met my husband, and the thought of having a child and being a mother grew. Sometimes your perspective changes when you meet someone with similar foundations and ideas. As they say, the right person changes you for good. I knew parenthood would be challenging, but I felt like we could conquer parenthood because my partner was just as strong and resilient as me.
Being a career-driven family, it took a while for us to conceive. It took us the 2020 pandemic (go pandemic babies). Pregnancy was challenging. I had morning sickness and vomiting that lasted until delivery. Baking soda and Preggie Pops were my friends. I couldn’t eat spicy or sugary foods anymore, which was sad because those were my favorites pre-pregnancy! Even post-pregnancy (almost two years later), I can’t eat sugar and spicy foods as I used to.
Being pregnant during the pandemic was also tricky; my husband couldn’t be with me for my ultrasound or doctor’s appointments. Even though he couldn’t be with me, we ensured those appointments were productive by sharing documents that contained questions we wanted answers to (we used Google Keep).
Parenthood is challenging but rewarding. You learn to remain strong in the face of adversity and become resilient in the face of challenges. As a parent, you’ll experience joy, frustration, and exhaustion. You may even feel like giving up at times. But don’t worry — this too shall pass.
The Challenges of Parenting
Regarding parenting, there are no easy answers or solutions — it’s a trial-and-error process that requires patience and perseverance. From sleepless nights to temper tantrums, parents often struggle to keep their sanity while raising children who will grow into responsible adults. And let’s not forget about the financial stress that can accompany parenthood!
But even though parenting can be difficult, there are specific strategies parents can employ to make life a little easier for themselves and their children. For instance, establishing routines and setting limits for your child can help create structure and foster positive behaviors.
Here are some tips that worked for us the past 19 months:
Please, More Sleep
A routine was vital. Every day should be the same routine before bedtime. We implemented most of the routine for naps too. LO’s routine for naps would be to change into her pajamas and read a book. We would do bath time, pajamas, and a book for bedtime.
Investing in a sleep consultant is an excellent option if you’re a parent struggling with your child’s sleep schedule. If that’s not in your budget, a few helpful tips we learned were blackout curtains, a white noise sound machine, and a safe room for independent sleeping (after 1-year-old or per pediatrician recommendation). Giving our LO her room helped us get back to 8 hours of sleep (give or take). If your current accommodations don’t offer you a separate room for your LO, you can build a barrier that blocks the child from seeing you in the same room. I do this at my parent’s home. You can also get a room divider.
There are different sleep training methods, but what worked for us was a mix of the Ferber and Cry it Out (CIO). We started with the Ferber method, and night 1 was the hardest. I went in to console her after a set time, but in the end, I ended up staying in her room until she fell asleep. Night 2 was better. She would cry for a few minutes and then knock out. She would cry for a few minutes overnight, and then magically, she’d go silent. I checked on her through our video monitor to ensure things were okay! Night 3 was like a sleeping angel ascended on our LO, she got into her crib with no fuss, looked at me, and entered her fetal position, and I left. A few minutes later, she would be sound asleep.
Foodie At Heart
When I introduced LO to solid food, I would steam most of her meals and blend them. I would depend on Once Upon a Farm if I didn’t have the time and needed a quick meal for her. Even at 19 months, LO still loves drinking their smoothie or eating overnight oats for a snack. Did you know Jennifer Garner (the actress) is a co-founder? I didn’t realize it until a few purchases later!
When LO started on cow’s milk, I had her use a straw or the Munchkin 360 Trainer cup. She never used a bottle (since she was breastfed), so I didn’t want to introduce one to her at an older age. It was challenging initially because she would sip the milk quickly and cough, but she got the hang of it quickly!
Rewards of Parenting
Though parenting can be difficult at times, it also has its rewards —watching your child grow into an adult capable of making wise decisions independently. Seeing them reach milestones such as crawling and walking is also incredibly gratifying! Being a parent allows you to learn more about yourself — you might surprise yourself by discovering hidden talents or finding new ways to cope with stress.
Parenting is not easy — there will be days when everything feels like it’s going wrong and other days when everything seems perfect. But regardless of what those days bring us, one thing remains constant: parenting brings challenges and rewards that will last us a lifetime! We must remember that this too shall pass (my new mantra) — if we remain resilient in our journey through parenthood, we will see our efforts pay off in the end!
Do you have parenting tips? Let me know what your favorites are in the comments below!
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