Success after IF

I didn't expect the conflicting feelings of being a mom

Since people have been posting advice/info for others lately, I thought I'd throw this out there in case it might help someone. 

I never expected so many conflicting feelings about motherhood.  At first, I felt really bad for feeling this way.  I thought I was being ungrateful and not a good mom.  But since I've learned that others feel the same way, I've accepted that I can love being a mom without loving every minute of it.  And that's ok. 

I wasn't prepared for:

- how it's possible to be insanely busy and bored at the same time.  While I may never get a chance to sit down, that doesn't mean my mind will be engaged.

- how lonely it can be, even though I'm not alone.

- how much I can simultaneously adore my kids and be desperate to get away from them.

- how I crave adult interaction, but find myself wanting to only talk baby stuff when I finally get it.

- how I can be drop-dead tired yet not want to go to bed.  I never thought I'd sacrifice sleep for some awake time to myself.

- how I could be so excited to watch them grow and change while also being sad and nostalgic about it.

- how funny tiny little people can be without trying.

-  how motherhood can be exhausting and exhilirating at the same time.

- how I spend half the day wishing it was quieter in my house but then get nervous when it's too quiet because I know they're up to no good.

- how babies can smell so sweet and stink so bad at the same time (on different ends).

- how much I miss my old life sometimes, but definitely wouldn't go back to it for anything!

Re: I didn't expect the conflicting feelings of being a mom

  • all this ditto... BUT add the full time working (outside of the house) Mom part to the mix... and not having the same high level mental capacity you used to.

    Motherhood is the BEST thing ever... but it sure aint easy!

     

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  • You hit it on the head - all of it!!!!  I always feflt guilty for just wanting to be away from the boys for a little bit (being at work doesnt count).  But you really do need some alone time. 
    TTC#1 since Feb 07 with PCOS and mild MFI
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  • I completely agree and couldn't have worded it better myself!  I am ready to put him to bed every night, but I am so excited to get him out of bed in the morning!  I miss him!
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  • I have to say while on maternity leave I LOVED having company coming over - it was a great distraction.  I was the type who loved sharing the baby for people to hold while I did stuff around the house.  Even now, working PT, I love when my mom pops in for coffee early in the mornings the days I'm home to break up the day a bit. 

    I also agree that I am loving each month more and more - right now DD is starting to walk and it's just such a fun age in general  : )

  • This sums it up perfectly.  I agree with every point you made.
  • Very well-put, Risper. I feel all those things too. When I leave work, I'm excited to see her but I also miss the days when I could unwind on the couch, watch TV and relax for awhile before dinner. Now it's the busiest time of day as we race around getting her dinner, bathing her, reading to her and getting her to bed.
  • I couldn't agree more with Risper.  This is how I feel on a daily basis!  I guess because it took us so long to get pregnant, we had these ideallic notions about how motherhood and babies would be.  I thought about it all the time.  And there are definitely times just like I imagined, but there are times that are so very much harder than I ever imagined.

    These little people don't come with a handbook and motherhood isn't necessarily instinctual.  

    Allison
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  • Totally agree w/ you! 
    "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
    ~Benjamin Franklin

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  • Very well said, Risp, very well said!
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  • OMG, I could have totally written this post!  Very well said, Rispergirl....thank you.  It's nice to know that I'm not alone.
  • This is exactly how I feel!! Thanks for posting this!! Makes me realize I'm not alone!!
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  • very well said and i agree with all of it
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  • Exactly!!  All of it!!
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  • GREAT post!
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  • ditto this but also from a working moms point of view or not ever being good at work again but knowing it is OK.

    ditto all of it.

    i get frustrated a lot with situation not necessarily baby.

  • completely ditto!

     

    I never knew that I could feel so bored/lonely being a SAHm.  And I hate saying that because I feel bad since I am SO lucky to be one... but it is still challenging to feel so bored and alone all the time.

    Married on 3.20.2004. It took 30 month, 2 failed adoptions and IVF for our first miracle. We have had 9 foster kids since he was born and started the domestic adoption process when he was 10 month old, we had 4 failed matches in that time. After our daughter was born we brought her home and spent 2 weeks fearing we might lose her because of complications that came up. But Praise God all went through and she is ours forever! Expecting again after IVF Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
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  • Wow, I couldn't have written some of these better.  You nailed it.  I do feel very lonely a lot of the time even though I am with DD so much.  DH works very long hours so it's just the 2 of us most of the time, which makes it even more difficult. 

    I do work PT, and I can tell you the days I am in the office are so much easier and less tiring then the days I am at home.  It's hard work!

  • Well said!
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