Why is she crying Why am I crying? Why did my birth go that way? Why doesn’t my partner understand what I’m saying? Why is the baby’s poop green? Why did the baby sleep through the night last night?
I guess I haven’t had the time to sit down and write a thoughtful reflection yet, but the babe is napping and this seems like a good time. In brief: I am doing really well and am loving being a mom. I guess I wasn’t prepared for this type of love, as it is one you don’t experience any other way. So deep and so pure.
As a mental health counselor I often find myself trying to elicit information from clients about their wellness. I’ve found over the years that just asking a general “how are you doing?” Doesn’t really get me much information. There are some folks who are open books, and can’t help but give a genuine in-depth answer to this question, but most people respond in brief. New mothers are no exception.
When summer hits I instantly feel a shift in my psyche. I think outdoor concerts, barbecues, dinner al fresco, hiking, and beach days. When I had my daughter I really wanted to continue doing all the fun summer things we like, but at the same time I was nervous about taking a newborn out and about in the heat and sun of the summer.
The birth of my daughter was a shock. Yes, I knew I was pregnant, and went into the experience as prepared as anyone could be, but it was still a surprising and, frankly, unsettling experience. Things didn’t go better or worse than I imagined, just different. The postpartum period for me was also a shock. It was much more challenging than I thought it would be, and I struggled to feel like a competent mother.