Name: Lynsey
Child: Freya 2.5 years
Location: Didsbury, Manchester
Expectations of Motherhood: I didn't have a lot of expectations really. I expected I would give birth and it would hurt, but I thought mainly about the practical aspects: washing, feeding, no sleep, teaching etc. I didn't really know what to expect when it came to the emotional impact of being a mother.
Reality of Motherhood: It's a constant juggling act of cooking, cleaning, playing, cleaning, working, organising childcare, playing... cleaning... all driven by the overwhelming desire to do whats best for your child and LOVE for that crazy little creature! It really puts into perspective all the stupid things that you thought were a problem before you had a child. Also, being a mother makes you cry at the news more!
Taking your child home for the first time: For us it was a really horrible experience to be honest. I had been in labour for a really long time (the 1st contraction was on Tuesday morning and she was finally born Saturday afternoon) so I was really tired and hadn't eaten pretty much the whole time. We left the hospital at 10pm into freezing fog and got home terrified and totally overwhelmed with a tiny baby to care for.
In hindsight I should probably have stayed in hospital overnight, but I didn't want my partner to have to leave. So, overall it was pretty grim but it got much, much better!
Best advice: Mummy knows best! If you don't think something is right, it isn't!
The hardest parts of being a mother:
Learning to have infinite patience in the face of utter exhaustion.
The best parts of being a mother:
Remembering all the games you used to play as a kid and getting to be a kid all over again!
Has becoming a mother changed you?
Yes, it has given me a capacity for patience I never thought possible (though I still lose my cool). It has made me understand the true meaning of unconditional love and it has made me less concerned about trivial things.
Hopes for your family:
For everyone to be happy, healthy and be the best that they can be.
What advice would you offer to new and expectant mums?
Go to groups! Mum & Baby groups, breast-feeding support groups, coffee mornings, anything! You will need friends who are going through the same stuff at the same time. If it wasn't for the breast-feeding support group I went to (baby cafe), I strongly suspect I would have given Freya to the neighbours (that's a joke... a bit).
Also, the sound of a hairdryer will get a baby to go to sleep!
Best advice: Mummy knows best! If you don't think something is right, it isn't!
Worst Advice: Your baby is underweight you should wake her up every 2 hours to feed her!
The hardest parts of being a mother:
Learning to have infinite patience in the face of utter exhaustion.
The best parts of being a mother:
Remembering all the games you used to play as a kid and getting to be a kid all over again!
Has becoming a mother changed you?
Yes, it has given me a capacity for patience I never thought possible (though I still lose my cool). It has made me understand the true meaning of unconditional love and it has made me less concerned about trivial things.
Hopes for your family:
For everyone to be happy, healthy and be the best that they can be.
What advice would you offer to new and expectant mums?
Go to groups! Mum & Baby groups, breast-feeding support groups, coffee mornings, anything! You will need friends who are going through the same stuff at the same time. If it wasn't for the breast-feeding support group I went to (baby cafe), I strongly suspect I would have given Freya to the neighbours (that's a joke... a bit).
Also, the sound of a hairdryer will get a baby to go to sleep!
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