Parenting

Parental Perplexities

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The insights and misconceptions you learn as a first-time parent.

It’s impossible to not be in admiration of those who totally parent with ease.

You know, those parents who depict a face-tuned, filtered Instagram post and walk around effortlessly; their babies relaxing in their strollers and have had eight hours of non-interrupted sleep. Their body has bounced back to their pre-pregnancy weight soon after birth (Fathers included) and they have had ample time to brush their hair and glam themselves up before they leave the house.

Yep, those parents!

This of course leaves me asking the obvious question… How?

I have just become a first-time mother and amongst gaining a copious amount of insight into myself and all things baby, these are the common misconceptions that I quickly came to learn:

#1 Not all babies fall asleep in the car.

No siree they don’t! I need at least an hour of mindfulness training before my venture to the car to mentally and physically prepare for the whirlwind, arduous encounter that proceeds me.  Need I say more?

# 2 The pram has an array of usages.

A baby sitting in one doesn’t necessary have to be one of them, right? My pram is a bag holder when I am out at the shops and an exercise apparatus when I attempt to go for a walk with the little one. Every outing lies hope that this will surely be the day that my baby will sit in the pram for the duration of the trip and I will have both arms free to leisure as I please. I still await that day or even that moment.  On the plus side, my arms have this new found muscle definition.

#3 Led-weaning is easier said than done!

Yes, it is indeed! Led- weaning is the process of giving your toddler selected foods to eat ‘on their own’ whilst supervising.  Instead, Led- weaning for me is defined by me sitting and watching anxiously, revisiting my CPR training in my head, whilst my little one tries to put all the food in his mouth in one single go. Sigh…

#4 Play time when out is fun time!

Yes, very fun…. If you call continuously running after your toddler as he refuses to sit with the other kids and sets off on a lightning discovery path. Instead of conversing in any type of dialogue with the other parents, my time is spent baby- proofing, distracting my little one and changing route paths!

So, from leisurely strolls with the little one in my arms to belted out rhythmic tunes while cruising in the car, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

What are some of the funny misconceptions that you have experienced as a first time parent?

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Anita is a Writer, Counsellor and Psychotherapist and is part of the team at Como Health Group in Beaumaris. She enjoys all things motivational and inspiring, reading, food, having a good chat and being a mum to her adorable children.