First-time moms have been known to go overboard with the eldest child. Take a look at 11 things moms do with the first baby we don't do with the second. I wanted to do everything right. Raising my eldest felt like a chance to start with a clean slate, to take all I'd been learning from observation or research and be the parent I wanted to be. After all, I had more time compared to moms with two or more kids. As crazy as it may be to suggest any parent has a lot of time, it's true. With only one child, I focused only on him, with no other children to worry about. I not only spent more … [Read more...]
12 Crucial Rules for Visiting a New Mom
As much as you want to meet your friend's new baby, could you also be making things harder for mom? Take a look at these 12 rules to follow when visiting a new mom. I could barely remember to shower, much less vacuum the carpet, prepare a meal or even manage the overwhelming change of becoming a new mom. No doubt, every mom could use help during those first few weeks and months of bringing home a baby. But what if help from others isn't so... helpful? Sometimes, having others over to your home becomes more of a burden. You need to make plans or you feel obligated to entertain and hold … [Read more...]
What I Wish People Told Me About Being a New Mom
Newborn moms often feel alone or wonder if they're the only ones who've experienced what they feel. Here's what I wish people told me about being a new mom. I thought I was prepared. Realistic, even. I read every baby book I could get my hands on, but overnight, new parenthood hit me hard. I must be the only one, I thought. My family and extended relatives with kids all seemed so... normal. I couldn't imagine how they could lead regular lives when mine felt turned upside down. "How did you get through it??" I asked them during one family gathering. I wanted to gauge how difficult … [Read more...]
What Maternity Leave REALLY Looks Like
Maternity leave is one of the most challenging stages of parenthood. Here's what maternity leave looks like during those first few months. I was more than ready to leave work that Friday afternoon. Pregnancy had taken its toll, and I was looking forward to staying home for a three month stretch. I understood the demands of a newborn baby, but I figured I'd have time to tackle a few tasks and hobbies. To a first-time mom like I had been, maternity leave looked enticing. I wasn't alone, either. Many people—from first time moms to childless kids—assume maternity leave is a vacation. A … [Read more...]
14 Funny Things People without Kids Say
If you don't have kids or are about to have your first, you may have said these funny comments. Check out these 14 funny things people without kids say! I was that person who never understood life with kids. Not that I never wanted them—I've always been open to having a family myself. But when I look back on how I viewed children, I realized how clueless I was about so many things. For one thing, I figured babies could simply sleep all day long. After all, most of the times I've seen babies, they were asleep in someone's arms. And not until did I become a mom did I truly appreciate … [Read more...]
Surviving the First Trimester when You Have No Idea Where to Start
Need help surviving the first trimester when you don't know where to start? Getting through the first trimester can be tough. Learn how to cope with morning sickness and fatigue in pregnancy. For both my pregnancies, the first trimester passed horribly. I couldn't eat many of the foods I loved, including breakfast staples like oatmeal and yogurt. I felt tired all the time, as if I had exercised (minus actually exercising). I barely gained enough weight to meet first trimester goals. Getting through a workday was a struggle. And while I didn't throw up, I felt like I needed to. Read more … [Read more...]
Scared to Breastfeed? 7 Reasons That Will Tame Your Fear
If you're pregnant and scared about breastfeeding, you're not alone. Many moms are scared to breastfeed. Learn the 7 reasons that will tame your fear. I didn't understand how other moms couldn't wait to nurse their babies, or how they see breastfeeding as a time to bond. All I had on your mind is how I was ever going to pull it off. If you're scared to breastfeed, you're not alone. Many moms dread the thought of breastfeeding a baby. First time moms might not know what to expect, and veteran moms may have had a negative experience with their older children. Maybe you're not sure about … [Read more...]
How to Be Out with Twins Alone (And Actually Survive!)
Parenting is daunting when figuring out how to be out with twins alone. With a singleton, you can carry your fussy baby and focus your attention only on him. With twins, you're plain outnumbered. (Read how to take toddler twins out alone.) That was me. I couldn't take my five-month-old twins to the beach the same way I did when their older brother was their age. I considered using a wagon before realizing they'd be too small to sit up on their own. I couldn't push their double stroller through the sand. And I definitely couldn't carry both of them in my arms. Going out with twins … [Read more...]