When it comes to being a new mum, most people only talk about how hard it was. The sleepless nights, the endless crying with no apparent cause, the lack of “me time”, the expenses, and the general inconvenience that come with babies.
Does anyone actually miss it, or is it just me?
My son is quite the little man now. He’s only 4yrs old but he holds full conversations in a manner that’s so adult-like it’s almost scary. How did he grow up so fast?
This year, I attended my first baby shower, and since then, I have attended two more. I love it. Apart from the joy of hanging out with amazing women (this is where I am happiest, honestly) and consuming delicious food and cold drinks, I love the atmosphere of expectancy; a brand new baby is on the way!
I have wanted another baby since my son turned 2, but this year I have looked forward to it more than ever before. At the second baby shower, we played a game where we had limited time to write down 20 things that go into a baby outing bag. I couldn’t believe how hard it was for me to remember, and how easy it was for the mothers who actually stepped out with diaper bags that day. It’s really been long.
Do you remember how it felt to hold your little honey bunny in your arms for the first time, the little fist closing around your finger? The trust and bond that grew between you as the days went by, the way he immediately stopped crying when you picked him up? He knows his mummy!
Sometimes I recall how much fun it was breastfeeding and expressing in bottles, and how much milk there was, and I smile. I am not satisfied with how I went about the weaning process the first time. Next time I intend to wean off the breast but not off the breast milk. I can’t wait to test my new ideas.
I often find myself remembering old recipes and dreaming up new ones. Blended pawpaw and grapes, crushed Rusk’s biscuits with formula, banana and avocado puree with breast milk, boiled chicken, Irish potato and carrot puree, pap with formula, crayfish and oil…
I think about Pampers and Huggies and how parents say they are far more expensive now than I remember. In a group where a new mum asks about less expensive alternatives, I have nothing to offer, so I listen and learn as other mums answer. Perhaps I will try cloth nappies; I’ve seen some really cute diapers online that can be washed and reused. There are diaper liners too, something I never considered trying the first time because I used disposable diapers throughout.
I remember the money spent on wipes. Next time I will probably copy my hospital: soak good old cotton wool in water on standby. I can’t wait to try these new things.
You’re up in the middle of the night trying to get your baby to sleep, and you know other mums around the world are doing same.
You watch your baby giggle and listen to her babble, and your heart nearly bursts with tenderness. You see the pride on your partner’s face and the delight on the faces of your parents, friends and loved ones, and the world is a beautiful place. What joy babies bring!
I know that there are many women who would do nearly anything to experience motherhood once, and I used to feel guilty for wanting a second time so badly. Now, I have made peace with it. Craving a second time does not mean you’re ungrateful; in fact, it means you are so very grateful for the first time that you are eager to be gifted with the experience again.
Are you looking forward to having another child, or are your childbearing years behind you? What do you miss about having a baby?