Motherhood Is A Journey

Motherhood doesn’t come with a manual that we can read  and act accordingly rather it’s completely hands on training model with lots of clauses and terms and conditions. It’s one of the toughest job and irrespective of you are Working mom or Stay-at-home Mom or Work-from-home mom, the difficulty level is same for all. So moms, to be moms and everyone out there, understand one thing that each pregnancy is different each child is different so don’t go by set guidelines, modify them as per your need. They are just to give you idea of whole picture and not to go word by word. So, here is how I sailed through this journey till now which might help you all.

1. Keep your eyes and ears open to everyone around you – doctor, mom, mom in law, neighbors or any other experienced person and take all the valuable advice you get. Keep everything in mind but do what you feel is right for you and your baby. A woman has very strong intuition but a mother’s sixth sense can never go wrong.

2. Breastfeeding is important and I do believe that one should try to feed their baby as long as they can. I breastfed my baby for 3 years and It helps in building the immunity of the child. But the moms who are not able to due whatsoever reasons don’t feel bad, it won’t effect in development of your child in any way.

3. Start semi solids only when the child turns 6 months old – true this is as per guidelines but world won’t turn upside down if you have to start early. Like one biscuit dipped in milk won’t harm, atleast this can be a saviour in situation when you have no alternative. Feeding a banana to a child in small quantity would be another alternative if the baby just refuses to take feed or go on no more milk strike.

4. Try to feed your child whatever you eat from the beginning, just make sure the food is properly mashed for baby to digest. Like you can give boiled kidney beans / rajma or white chana to your baby after 6-7 months. Mash any fruits and give rather boiling or pureeing it completely. This helps babies feel the texture of different foods and also helps them be non fussy eaters.

5. Don’t force the babies for anything like walking or potty training or eating or speaking. Sooner or later, they will do but the push at this age will do no good to them. I have personal experience within family for a child for whom potty training started at 1.5 years but child used to cry to sit on potty seat and finally he learned only around 3 yrs when he was going to school. So, give time to your child to achieve their milestones and not get worried why my child is late.

6. Keep talking to your child and tell them more than just the name of anything. Example any fruit – like mango, it’s our national fruit, available in summer and variety. Or Milk – from where it comes, why it’s important and what all you can make from milk. Kids won’t respond and you might feel it is not useful but you would be surprised when they will relate to it sometime when you won’t expect.

7. I personally feel don’t over buy on baby stuff rather invest in things which are really helpful. Sometimes, we buy things considering this will be helpful but our child decides to just not touch it or show their dislike towards it. So, get signs from your baby and then buy things. I have seen friends who got baby rocking chair, baby swing, baby gym and many more. Either they outgrew the stuff really fast or barely used them. Also babies get lots of gifts that many things get repeated.

8. Don’t forget yourself in this journey. Remember you are also a woman, a wife, a daughter and a sister apart from being mom. Don’t ignore yourself or your hubby and other relationship. Spend time on yourself too because a happy you will be a happy mom.

So, moms hang in there as this journey is life long and we keep learning with every passing day. It’s not easy but it’s not difficult too, just go with the flow.

Happy Parenting!

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