My Story And 3 Helpful Thoughts

name: Nellie

date entered: 11/02/2007

country: Australia

story:

WOW! what a journey... Even though I read every book and every website/forum whilst pregnant with my first child and second child, nothing prepared me for the harsh reality of being a Mum. I have found it so challenging and life changing but of course I wouldn't change anything for the world. I love that I discovered many nice traits about myself, like patience, understanding and the protective mother's love. My babies are now 5 and 3 years old and it has been a wonderful journey. I love watching our kids interact with one another (and fight with one another). And for all the hardship and heartache we endured with the allergies and anaphylaxis of our first borne, and the tonsillitis and sleep apnoea of our second borne, they are growing into wonderful little people with new challenges thrown our way everyday.

I have 3 things I would like to share with other parents that I have learnt along the way and made life easier some days:

1. When you are breastfeeding through painful mastitis, up at night pacing the floor with a colicky baby or cleaning up vomit from the carpet- think of the other thousands of parents out there doing exactly the same thing as you at that time- YOU ARE NOT alone!

2. When you have baby no 1, it is always hard and then baby no 2 comes along and you think 'gee 1 baby was easy', so when I am thinking that 2 is hard I always remind myself that if/when I have baby no 3 I will think that 2 was actually easy...

3. When you are going through a difficult stage/phase with a baby or toddler and you just wish they would hurry up and pass that stage, remember that even though they outgrow one phase they quickly start another. SO please do not wish their stage away or one day you will wake up and they will be all grown up and you would of missed all the lovely moments in between those frustrating stages...

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