Encouraging words from YOU!
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Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4550
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Topic: Encouraging words from YOU!
Posted By: Andie
Subject: Encouraging words from YOU!
Date Posted: 21 November 2006 at 3:08pm
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Mrs Frantic - your marvelous post about the first 6 weeks has totally inspired me! It was awesome! I'm making a little gift for 2 friends due to have their first babies soonish, and would love your help, ladies! They're both wonderfully competent women who'll be great mums, but as we all know, those first few weeks can be truely difficult for most of us, and we need to know we're not the only ones. So I'm compiling little notes with statements that encourage women during those early days - not advice, but just encouraging stuff. I'd love to be able to add comments from you lovely ladies - real snippets of encouragement from other real mums who've been there, done that. I'll do each quote up on a little piece of paper and fill a box with them, so that when the going gets tough, there's a box full of statements from other people's experiences that'll help. My little bits to add to it are along the lines of: "you'll only get more and more competent at parenting - can't go backwards!" and "you're in the toughest time of baby-hood now, it'll get easier", "your baby won't remember any mistakes you make now" and "you can't see how much your baby adores you yet, but there'll be TONS of smiles coming for you very soon". I'd really love to add comments from lots of other women's experiences too - so for those of you who don't mind being quoted, I'd thoroughly appreciate any bits of encouragement you could add - and a name and something like how many kids you have, or what age your baby is would help make it a bit more 'real' too. Thanks heaps if you're considering adding something! ------------- Andie |
Replies:
Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 21 November 2006 at 3:24pm
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Does "Make the most of the fact that your child can not walk/talk/escape! Toddlers are HELL!" count?
Sorry, scrap that. Having a bad mother week. I'll come back and write things when I'm in a nice mood 
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 21 November 2006 at 3:32pm
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No Nikki I like that one. It is so true!!! ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: meow
Date Posted: 21 November 2006 at 4:12pm
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My grandma said before Ella was born, and I think of it every time I see her now: "When they are sleeping you can forgive them anything".
It is so true, they look so beautfiul and peaceful when they sleep  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: james
Date Posted: 21 November 2006 at 4:21pm
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mum always said your heart holds more love then your ever no its so ture and it get better is always a goodone ------------- <a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b4.lilypie.com/nLJ5p13.png" alt="Lilypie 4th Birthday Ticker" border="0" /></a> |
Posted By: jax
Date Posted: 21 November 2006 at 6:18pm
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From me: "It's OK to cry, you're not alone ! Better out than in anyway." ------------- Jacquie - Mama to Erin, 13.07.06 - Chief Cat Chaser & Marmite Sammie Eater 
Love many, trust few, harm none. ~Anon~ |
Posted By: baalamb
Date Posted: 21 November 2006 at 6:39pm
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It's absolutely ok to ask for help. You're not expected to do it all on your own.
Man, I wish I'd taken my own advice! Oh well... There's always next time 
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Posted By: mum2paris
Date Posted: 21 November 2006 at 8:23pm
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Babies aren't as breakable as you think.
No matter how bad a parent you think you are, 99.9% of us turn out alright no matter what our parents did. All the other new mums that look like they have it together are probably just as out of their depth as you might feel, they just haven't found the strength to admit it yet. I second Kirsten's one, Ask for help - it's not a sign of weakness its a sign you are strong enough to admit you aren't wonderwoman - which no-one expects you to be. That's what really takes guts. No one's watching you waiting for you to fail, they're watching you admiring the great job you are doing, despite having had no on-the-job training before taking up the position. ------------- Janine and her 2 cool chicks, Paris & Ayja 
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Posted By: Andie
Date Posted: 21 November 2006 at 8:34pm
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Oh wow, these are awesome! Thanks heaps, and keep em coming! ------------- Andie |
Posted By: emeldee
Date Posted: 21 November 2006 at 10:21pm
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Okay....
1) Remember you are recovering from a long pregnancy and physically draining birth - you shouldn't expect to do everything at once - take time out to recover, or at least be easier on yourself until you do (6 to 7 weeks for a starter) 2) Dirt on the windows is a safety feature (I got this one from my first ever plunket nurse - she basically said to forget about cleaning and spend the time getting to know my baby instead - having non-sparkling clean windows meant people were less likely to walk into them). 3) It takes a while to get to know new people - this is especially true of your little person - don't expect to know everything about them from the get go - it takes time and shared experiences to learn who they are and what they like and dislike. 4) Don't be afraid to put them in their cot/bassinet/somewhere safe and take a walk out to the letterbox when they are driving you over the edge. Noone expects to you cope with every situation - don't be afraid to walk away and take a breather when you feel near the edge. Also don't be afraid to phone a friend when you need help - they let you do it on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire - they let you do it with parenting too! 5) Sleep when they sleep - powernap like a cat - just focus on the basics for the first two weeks, hang out in your pj's, don't leave the house, tell visitors to do the dishes/washing/not come around until you want them there, vegetate and make the most of just being with your baby - how often in life is there an excuse to stay in your pj's and have two hour powernaps? (It'll make a huge difference four weeks down the track) 6) Breastfeeding is hard work and hurts until you both get the hang of it, usually after the skin on your nipples have been grazed and grown back stronger. If you can stick it out to 6 weeks, you're usually set for the duration. Ask your midwife/doctor/nurse/la leche/plunket for help early and often until you have it sorted 7) Everyone has an opinion or advice about the right way to parent your little person. Listen to it, but remember the only right advice/opinion is the path you choose to take. Remember, you're doing a great job and your little person adores you (even though they don't act like it). Maree - mum of Sean (11), Andrew (18 months) and Connor (7 weeks) ------------- |
Posted By: kezplanet
Date Posted: 22 November 2006 at 12:34am
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/The housework will always wait for another day .... your time is better spent enjoying the wonders of your new baby, you don't get the first moments back again.
Kerryn, mum to Ashlyn 29/03/04 & Anastasia 01/11/05 |
Posted By: Jennz
Date Posted: 22 November 2006 at 3:52am
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You don't realise how much your parents love you until you become a parent yourself.
I remember hearing that not long after I had Charlotte and thinking "wow, my parents love me this much?", I think its pretty amazing when you think about it. And makes you feel closer to your parents. ------------- Jen, Charlotte 7 & Kate 3 
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 22 November 2006 at 8:27am
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NOthing to add yet but I am crying my eyes out reading all this. We're having a pretty tough time atm and you ladies are pretty inspiring. Helps me to remember that it is actually all worth it in the end after all. -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Peace
Date Posted: 22 November 2006 at 9:08am
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With children it is always first 18 months to get them to stand up and talk and the next 18 years to get them to sit down and listen!
From the moment we knew of them we loved them, from the moment we loved them we knew them, from the moment they know us, they love us, from the moment they love us we know it! Hope guides me. It is what gets me through the day and especially the night. The hope that after you're gone from my sight it will not be the last time I look upon you. Life deals you what you can handle, that's why God made chocolate... Even though it has no guarantees, this day is an incredible opportunity. So step confidently, enthusiastically forward with a smile on your face and go with it. A mothers love is never ending. Parenting is not for the feint hearted but for the brave and willing. God bless you for taking up the challenge. Time to stop. Forget the world. Look into your childs eyes. And see the "I love you". Giggles from babies are the gold of Mums. Goddamit woman GET SOME SLEEP! I have plenty more stashed away in my noggin but I can't think of any more for now. I love catch phrases! I think it is a great idea to make a book out of them (I might steal it ehehe). ------------- DD1 May 2006 DD2 March 2011 DD3 August 2012 |
Posted By: EthansMummy
Date Posted: 22 November 2006 at 12:20pm
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Don't be afraid to make mistakes sometimes they are the best way to learn.
I second Janine "Babies aren't as breakable as you think". I remember first holding Ethan and being so scared that his head would just fall off if I didn't hold it  I know better now but it took a while. ------------- ** MUM TO ** Ethan 29/08/2006 Brooke 22/09/2008 |
Posted By: mum2paris
Date Posted: 22 November 2006 at 1:24pm
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lolol.. i learnt that the hard way Linelle.. i had been going to write "babies are pretty bounceable" but changed my mind. ------------- Janine and her 2 cool chicks, Paris & Ayja
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Posted By: Andie
Date Posted: 22 November 2006 at 2:06pm
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He he he.... bounceable!!! Ah, these quotes are awesome. I'm loving this little project so much already!! ------------- Andie |
Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 25 November 2006 at 1:59pm
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They do eventually sleep through the night and even if it takes ages your body gets used to waking a few times a night.
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Posted By: mum2paris
Date Posted: 26 November 2006 at 12:38am
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and just when you get used to waking up - they'll sleep thru and you'll be left wide awake in the middle of the night wondering what's wrong. ------------- Janine and her 2 cool chicks, Paris & Ayja
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Posted By: jax
Date Posted: 26 November 2006 at 3:01pm
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Hahaha Janine - that's what I had a problem with for a while, I would wake at 3/4am wondering why I couldn't hear any crying !!
And I second what Jennz said too about realizing how much your parents love you once you've had a baby - having Erin also gave me a totally new perspective on my mum and now I appreciate her a LOT more !! ------------- Jacquie - Mama to Erin, 13.07.06 - Chief Cat Chaser & Marmite Sammie Eater
Love many, trust few, harm none. ~Anon~ |
Posted By: james
Date Posted: 26 November 2006 at 8:13pm
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bottle feed ing your baby because you cant /dont want to is not the biggest sin on earth and aslong as bubs is well feed and happy/loved it does not matter were the milk comes from luana mum to james a big bottle feed bubs ------------- <a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b4.lilypie.com/nLJ5p13.png" alt="Lilypie 4th Birthday Ticker" border="0" /></a> |