10 Things Motherhood Has Taught Me

Being a parent is one of the hardest things to adjust to. I love my daughter more than I could have ever fathomed, but it has been a very interesting journey. You learn a lot in a short period of time, and time goes so quickly it's easy to lose grasp on reality when you're in the parent-mode.

The years before I had a baby were full of doing things by myself, like taking a shower. After having a kid, I've learned that I completely took that time for granted. I shower, she showers. I take a bath, she takes a bath. I eat, she steals my food and laughs at me. Alone time is just a figment of my imagination unless I wake up super early or wait until she goes to bed at 4 am. I promise, it's worth it though.

When I was younger and more foolish, I always hated seeing sticky children. Faces covered in chocolate always made me irritated; why don't the parents just wipe their faces of? Jeeze! After having my own I spend every second wishing that my child would just stay clean, it's just not a possibility. Moments after she gets a bath, she gets into her secret candy stash (that I still can't find) and she's immediately covered in chocolate or general stickiness. Meals are a whole 'nother rodeo. Food. EVERYWHERE.

They all learn in different ways and at different speeds. I learned year one not to compare my child's development with anyone else's at her age. They all react differently in different situations. And usually, the advice other parents give only work for their child. I've learned to adapt and learn the proper way to handle my little girl and do what's best for her.

When my daughter was a tiny baby, I had the hardest accepting help, and I still struggle with it from time to time. As a parent you have to take any help you can get, especially if it's free! Someone offers to watch your kid, say yes (as long as you know them and know that they're capable of keeping your child safe.) Someone offers to make and bring you food? Say YES and be gracious for it. Just say yes when someone wants to feel useful and make your life easier.

This kind of plays off the previous thing, but they're two very different feelings. Being offered help is a lot less embarrassing than to ask for it, but sometimes you have to bite the bullet and just see if your parent can watch your baby so you can sleep or get the house clean. It's very important in everyday life as well, even if you aren't a parent.

To anybody who isn't actively taking care of a child may not understand what this even means. But we know, oh we know. Some days out kids are out for 12 hours and others they're only asleep for what seems like 2. Take any amount of sleep or just down time that you can. Nap times were always for throwing in a load of laundry and lounging on the couch for an hour between the constant running that is toddlerhood. I also know, that sometimes that "down time" is necessary for cleaning, cooking, or other motherly/fatherly/legal guardian-ly duties, but if you can sleep or rest. DO IT.

Honestly, though I would rather watch the Ted Bundy show on Netflix, I don't mind watching Dino the Dinosaur for the thousandth time in a row or Sophia the First. They're actually pretty cute and teach nice lessons to your youngsters. Spirit is my favorite (Shh don't tell anyone), it's just so stinking cute.

This might seems out of place in an article like this, but I relearn this every. single. day. If you wake up in the morning and don't expect your kid to be up yet and feel safe to close the door, don't. They know and will start screaming even if they're still asleep. Are they distracted by their toys or tv? It's still not safe. Don't even try. Just leave it cracked so they can push their way in or there will be a melt down.

It's very cliche, but it's true. As a parent I have had to learn how to be patient. I'm still learning to this day, but it's a lot better. I was very hot tempered before I became a mom, and now it's a lot better. Even if it is only around my child. It comes in handy way more than I had ever realized.

As a parent and a person with anxiety issues, it's very difficult at times. I can sometimes feel myself on the edge of a panic attack, and my sweet little girl is just climbing on me and being a kid. It feels like I'm going to implode, but I have to control it for her. In a way, I suppose, having a child has helped me figure out better ways to control my mental state, even if it is just a temporary fix.

Thank you so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed it and maybe learned something new. If you'd like to chat feel free to contact me or leave a comment below. Have a lovely day!

~Brianna