You may not realize it yet, but you have been given a monumental task. I am sure that you are easily fatiqued, frustrated, and nervous to the point of tears at times. However, I want to share with you my thoughts on your present situation, as well as a little bit of advice that I hope will last a long time.
First of all, relax. You can't get all the housework done, spend an hour on your makeup anymore, or make spontaneous plans.
It's not the end of the world. It's the beginning of a new world.
When your newborn wakes you up every 2 hours to feed and you feel exhausted, just remember that this time is precious. There will only be a short amount of time before this child doesn't cry for your breast anymore, so savour each moment you have to spend cuddling him or her back to sleep. Then don't hurry to put him or her down, even though your arms feel like rubber. Take a few minutes to watch them sleeping. Notice the sweet rising and falling of their tiny chest as they breath, the rosy color on their cheeks, watch for that sudden "gassy" smile to flutter across their face(it goes quick), and take a moment to smell the top of their little head. (babymagic is more than just the name of a shampoo.) These are the little things that you will think back on when you are watching them pull out of your driveway in eighteen years, going off to college. I know that it's easy for me to say that they grow up quick, because I know all you can see in front of you is the next twenty years dragging by, and the fear of responsibility nipping at your heels as you mentally run back to your weekends on the lake, the sleeping until noon moments that you can't seem to remember, the spontaneous intimacy spent with your partner that you are too tired to think about now, and what happened to going out with friends who stay out until dawn? Now you have a bedtime just like you did when you were 5. It's okay. Nothing wrong with that, because you have so much more than you ever did before.
Your life has become more meaningful, because you have someone to sacarfice for, to teach things to, to give all of your love to, to protect with your life, and to encourage, inspire, and guide the way you always wanted to. This little person will become whatever you mold him or her to be. When the job is done, you can stand back and admire your work proudly.
There is no task more admirable than that, young parent. So, when you feel blue think about that mother or father out there holding their child's teddybear crying in their rocking chair, because their little one didn't get to grow up, or was taken away from them because of a bad choice they made, or because of an accident or illness. Live your life with your child. Make your child a top priority. There are no promises for the future, so have no regrets when you get there. Make each moment count, even if you have to go to the grocery store in sweats with uncombed hair, and baby puke on your shirt. It's a badge of honor few deserve to wear. Wear it proudly, young parent. Wear it proudly.
