one day and discover that you no longer do anything for yourself, that you are suddenly thrust into a world that completely revolves around this new 6lb bundle in your arms. A bundle who somehow dictates how you will spend every waking minute of the rest of your life.
I am a young, confident, and independent woman. Well, I was an independent woman. And I was proud of that! I was proud of the fact that I had a job and I was well educated and I had a few talents. I have been an Aunt since I was 7 years old and by the time I found out I was pregnant my siblings had blessed me with 23 nieces and nephews! "A child?" I thought, "piece of cake." The child I got has completely disarmed me. He has brought me to tears, he has made me feel incompetent, and has brought me to my knees in prayer almost daily. He also has warmed my heart, made me smile and laugh, and brought me closer to God. In saying that, the best advice I have received may surprise you.
Liam was only a couple weeks old when I read in a magazine advice that a woman had written in suggesting that no matter what, every day you need to get ready for the day. That means, no being lazy in your pajamas all day long. But, to actually shower, brush your hair and get dressed! Why, you may ask, is this so important?
You may not leave your house all day long, so why would you need to be dressed? Because, it is something you do for YOU! Remember YOU? That young, confident, and independent woman that you used to know? That woman that used to go anywhere and do anything with no boundaries? In order to feel like YOU again, you need to get dressed.
It makes you feel good, it makes you feel clean, and sometimes it can even make you feel awake! Reiterate... sometimes. You might not be able to sit down to dinner without one arm wrapped tightly around that cute baby; you might not be able to jump in the car and go without first changing a diaper, packing a bag, and wrestling a child into an inconceivably heavy car seat; and you may not be able to chat with your girlfriends on the phone without shouting over a baby's wailing. But, you CAN get ready for the day. And in getting ready for the day, you will feel a little bit normal again. Notwithstanding, spending ten minutes of your baby's nap time slowly curling your hair can be very therapeutic.
Feeling normal will help you remember to smile back when your baby squeals at you, it will help you remember that this baby will not always be a mewling infant, and it will help you remember that you can DO this! So, moms, get off the computer, go pull on some jeans, find your hairbrush, and swipe on some mascara, because I promise, you will feel 110% better and if you do nothing else today, you will feel like you did something productive.
