I was browsing the web and I came across a collection of confessions by Mums.
One occasionally pretended to be sick so her partner would have to care for their baby.
Another would wipe her snotty kids nose with her bare hands and wipe it on her jeans when no one was watching.
Some of them confessed to feeling so deprived of adult company they developed crushes on children’s TV hosts and even cartoon characters.
Several pretended not to smell pooey nappies and steered the child towards other people to make the discover y and change them.
The confessions weren’t very racey… most of them actually spoke of the huge exhausting challenge that drives most parents to desperation occasionally. If you are a parent of a baby, you deserve a medal. Your whole life seems to implode around this little bottomless pit of need. All your time, energy and money just gets soaked up.
Here’s a few things that might make it more tolerable. First, it is worth it. Parenthood really is a privilege that not everyone gets to experience – and the lifetime of love you will get back is worth this investment now. Second, be a mother, not a martyr. For the sake of your child, you need sleep and a life as well. Live up to no one’s expectations apart from your own … and make those expectations gentle. If you look at your parents or in-laws or friends and feel they are judging you, smile and look at your baby instead. Your home doesn’t have to look beautiful or even tidy – clean up when your baby goes flatting. There’s lots more I could say but realise it’s just for a season. In no time at all you’ll get your time back, your sleep back and your energy back. But what you won’t get back are those wonderful precious few months when this little person needed for everything.