LexiYoga

Trials and Tribulations of a New Mom

Written by Diana Koch.

Motherhood has changed every single aspect of my existence. It has affected me physically, emotionally, mentally, socially and just about any other way that you can think of. Now please do not think I am being a pessimist of any sort. I am simply stating what is relevant to my point of view.

baby and toys

All I can say is that no amount of reading could have prepared me for Motherhood. The What to Expecting When Expecting book had nothing on the aftermath. I had to learn the hard way that my daily shower would be considered a luxury after having a baby. With all honesty I can truly say that becoming a mother has been my rite of passage to brand new world. A lifestyle that you cannot fully comprehend until you have been initiated. It has been the most challenging experience in my life. Your child is the greatest responsibility that you will ever have. Parenting requires an immeasurable amount of strength and commitment. But in return you will achieve great love.

Being a new mom has certainly been a culture shock with its own social pressures. The personal choices that a mother makes for her baby fall under scrutiny by anyone with an opinion. At times it can be extremely overwhelming especially when I've already got a little person depending on me for everything. And I mean EVERYTHING!! It can be tough on a mother to adjust to her own parenting style and what she thinks is right and wrong for her child. Now well-meant advice is always welcomed but at the end of it all you just have to listen to your own heart and brain. Chances are that you will happen to know certain things just by instinct. I can't even remember the amount of times I envisioned meeting her and how we would be. Almost every possible question in the book was on my mind. Besides she was going to change the rest of my life forever. But just like with everything else in life it's all about your attitude and the approach you will take.

Becoming a mother has been the biggest commitment that I have ever made. It has been a test of will and determination. It's no longer about me and what I want. My first and foremost priority are my child's needs. This can be a very tiring task. I believe that as a mother you need to make sure that you are well taken care of first. This can be done with the help of a great support system. You cannot provide for others if you are negligent of yourself. A positive way of thinking is necessary in order to achieve positive goals. Your child will only benefit if you are in the right frame of mind. Children are much smarter than they appear and we can learn a lot from them. But the truth is that they look up to us (no pun intended) and we need to be healthy for them.

The love for your child(ren) is unmatched and unconditional. I have been a mom for a short amount of time but the feelings are undeniable and will only become stronger. This is my reward for all the endless things that I do for her on a second to second basis. This is the light at the end of the tunnel. In all honesty, I am in complete awe of her and amazed by who she is. And curious to know who she will become. It is my day-to-day interaction that helps her understand the world that she is living in. I still have a hard time trying to make sense of it all but I try.

I am not sure if it's just me but I went through a bit of an identity crisis. I was taking on a whole new role that I had absolutely no comprehension of. Inevitably, a lot of changes were going to take place but I had no idea to what degree. I would wonder if any of my clothes were ever going to fit again. Or how my relationship with others was going to evolve. I remember the first few weeks of mommyhood as being extremely stressful and devastating. Nobody had warned me of the many growth spurts that a baby will have during this time. My closest friend during this confusing time was and still is my computer. Anytime I have any type of question or concern I would be able to find an answer to it. The amount of information is abundant and easily located. As technologically-impaired as I am thank goodness for the net.

There is much to be said about this beautiful journey. I will continue to look forward to the future with optimism and hope.

Thank you for your time and readership.

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