Words of Wisdom from Real Mothers

Words of Wisdom from Real Mothers at a La Leche League Meeting:

• Newborns don’t look like magazine babies.

• There are no right answers.

• People say things, but they aren’t always trying to be judgmental when they say them.

• A dirty house builds extra immunities.

• Sometimes motherhood stinks.

• ‘Should’ is a poison word that argues against reality.

• It’s important to see other babies so you know what’s really normal.

• Sometimes the books are just wrong.

• Listen to yourself.

• Listen to your baby. Respect him and his intuition. He will tell you what he needs.

• Find someone who will listen to you.

• You will never achieve an ideal state of motherhood.

• Wait long enough and it will change, and the questions and answers will be different.

• Pick your battles.

• A dog is an excellent floor cleaner.

• Respond to questions with “Why do you ask?”

• Receiving blankets have all kinds of uses— a surface for public diaper changes, an extra wrap in a car seat, catching spit- up.

• Hold off buying things until you know whether you’re ever going to use them— like a crib or changing table. Don’t get caught up in the consumerism of new parenthood.

• The ideal adult-to-baby ratio is about three to one the first week. But if all you have is one mother and one baby, you’ll manage.

• When people offer help, say yes.

• Join a playgroup. It’s not for the child, it’s fo r the mother.

• After a week or so, get out of the house. The crying doesn’t bother other people as much as you think it does, and even the grocery store can seem like a wonderful adventure.

• Step outside when you can, throw your shoulders back, take a deep breath, and look up for at least a few seconds.

• Don’t be surprised at how totally bizarre you feel the first week. It’s normal to feel real
  
  
  ly weird.

• You can only do what you can do.

• Let go of your expectations and let what is be.

• Just because it’s fun doesn’t mean it’s not important.

From The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, 8^th Edition, Chapter 20, Tear Sheet Toolkit.