Here are just a few of the ways life has changed. Not saying they are all good just different.
1) I make sure I am showered and look presentable. With my first child, Molly, who was born over 10 years ago, I think I fell into the typical “first- time stay at home” Mom way. Molly was bathed every day, and I don’t think she ever wore an outfit twice. Then there was me. I think I was was lucky if I showered every other day and donned more than three different outfits in a week. And this was before yoga pants were in vogue. Now I make sure I shower every day that I want to shower. (Yeah, I still slip once in a while, but now it’s by choice.)
2) What’s the big deal with matching bottle tops and bottoms anyway? Again, what is it about your first that everything has to be so perfect? You know how the top and bottom pieces of the bottles are color coordinated, and ideally you should have a matching top and bottom? Well I certainly wasn’t into these details the last few times around the way I was the first time. I was in the grab-and-go mode and if they happened to match…perfecto! But most times they didn’t and I was totally fine with that.
3) I promised I would not make the rash decision to chop off my hair. It was about six weeks after Molly was born that I went for the “New Mom Hairdo”. I think it honestly relates back to item #1 above, where I took the steps to make my life easier to make more time for her. Not saying I won’t go short again, but not right after the baby was born and for function over form. I now make sure if I want my hair done, I take the time to do it for me.
4) We don’t listen to Baby Music and Lullabies. You may not want to follow this advice, but it just occurred naturally as my three older children play their favorite radio station. Q102 plays fun, upbeat dance music, and I’m a big fan of it too. I’m hoping that the lyrics go over their heads (to justify it, I tell myself that Rock a Bye Baby’s lyrics aren’t perfect either). But my kids and I love to have dance party and we certainly do jam. Poor Delaney may never know what Mary Had a Little Lamb is but she certainly knows Black Eyed Peas.
5) Playgroup – what’s that? They have evolved. For the first few years (really until I had my third child, Ellie), I was a “regular” on the playgroup circuit. I loved my weekly dates with my girlfriends and the kids got to play, and it was definitely a win-win for everyone. But my life changed with Ellie as she was born with some major special needs. Then by the time Delaney came around, I had moved, my older three were in school and I was working more. Delaney’s “playgroups” have evolved. She still has playgroup but they tend to be more with cousins and her siblings. This Momma doesn’t sit around much anymore now that I have gazillion loads of wash to do, four kids to manage and a business. Oh, the good old days! I did love my playgroups.
6) I will get to a friend’s wedding now, even if I have a newborn. Still to this day, one of my regrets (and I don’t have too many) is that I didn’t make it to one of my good friend’s wedding (sorry Dan and Susan) because I had a newborn and I was nursing and I didn’t think I could travel with the baby or leave her home because of the nursing issue and her being my first born. I was able to make one of my dear employee’s daughter’s wedding when baby #4 was just 2 weeks old (granted it was local) but I made it a priority to find a way. In retrospect, I wish I went to their wedding and had hired a babysitter when we were up at our destination. The things you learn….
7) This Baby is not stopping my Crazy Busy Good Life. We are big fans of Ocean City, NJ, and Delaney and I were down the shore seven days post birth and C-section. I had to go pick up the other kids, right? We also were at a minor league baseball game with the family with my little three-week old. Again, I’m not sure you want to follow my advice as I feel like I’m breaking all the rules here, but it all turned out okay and my little girl can keep up. And why do I wonder that she never wants to chill? I know I’m teaching her to be always on the go.
8) Baby Book- What’s that? I do have lots of videos and pictures of her….probably even more than Baby #1 thanks to the Smart Phone…but scrapbooking her first year just isn’t going to happen.
9) I Never Ever Compare Delaney to Other Babies Her Age. Again, maybe it is because I am too busy these days or because I am not surrounded with her peers on a regular basis but I don’t think this is a bad thing. Come on- we all know that babies develop at different rates and as long as we are somewhat aware, we will be ok. I do though get the Baby Center updates weekly so I know where she should be and then I can have the discussion with my doctor, if necessary.
So for all you seasoned moms out there: Have you changed your ways since Baby #1? Please share, because I know I am still learning this game called Motherhood and there is always room for improvement. Besides, it’s always fun to hear how others manage to cope with the delightful madness that is parenting.
