s/o shower games: What is your best advice for a FTM?

[scattered]

I'm putting together a shower for my sister who is due six days before me. One of the things I want to do is have the guests write their best piece of advice. I don't know if we've done this here before, but let's hear it! 

What is your number one, very best piece of advice or encouragement for a first time mom?

[kj808]

Mine is always "when it comes to parenting, keep an open mind and never say never" I think a lot of times FTMs are always so worried about having to do things a certain way that they get stressed out and too caught up in doing something that particular way. I think keeping an open mind is the way to go.

[jenari]

Mine is always the same if I'm asked: it's just to be easy on yourself. We can set such high expectations and demands of ourselves. Some days you'll conquer the world - shower, get out of the house, cook supper - and other days you won't even make it out of your pjs. Both are totally okay! It took me a long time to realize that as a FTM.

[honeylemon]

Nothing lasts forever. One day you will sleep again. One day your house will look acceptable again. One day your boobs will belong to you again. One day you won't spend hours in the rocking chair trying to get that baby to sleep. One day you won't have to change diapers anymore. One day you won't have to clean puke out of a car seat again. One day he or she won't be a baby anymore. You don't have to enjoy every moment of every day, but remember that this will not last forever.

[lupineaura]

Make a concerted effort to make friends with other new moms. I really wish I had been better at that.

[scattered]

I always tell people that no matter how experienced another mom is, don't ever take advice that goes against your instincts.

[rels09]

Similar to what honeylemon said, my advice would be that usually by the time you are just frustrated/worried enough about something to start Googling it, the problem goes away on its own.

[SassyPants150]

Get out of the house in real clothes and fixed up as soon as you can...it will make you feel like a normal person of society again!

Babies are much more portable when they are little, utilize that time wisely.

[Deleted]

Enjoy the moment. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in trying to juggle the new changes and life that we forget to just sit back and breathe it in.

I like to just stay in bed and bond with baby. No cleaning, cooking, guests etc. Just me, DH and baby.

[onceinlovewithamy]

Feb 9, 2015 21:50:24 GMT -5 scattered said:

I always tell people that no matter how experienced another mom is, don't ever take advice that goes against your instincts.

This.  I always tell moms to trust your gut.  You may not feel it now, but after you pop that baby out, maternal instincts kick in.  Listen to them.  

[saltyh2O]

Feb 9, 2015 19:04:42 GMT -5 honeylemon said:

Nothing lasts forever. One day you will sleep again. One day your house will look acceptable again. One day your boobs will belong to you again. One day you won't spend hours in the rocking chair trying to get that baby to sleep. One day you won't have to change diapers anymore. One day you won't have to clean puke out of a car seat again. One day he or she won't be a baby anymore. You don't have to enjoy every moment of every day, but remember that this will not last forever.

Exactly honeylemon - couldn't have said it better myself. The whole adjustment and the shock of sleep-loss + a brand new routine (or lack there of) that you don't get to ease into slowly resulted in me feeling a lot like "OMG HOW LONG WILL I BE ABLE TO DO THIS?!?" early on...which just did no one any good. Thank the Lord DH was able to remind me we were just in one season of life and that it would change, we just had to be patient in the midst and watch what happened.

And guess what? Here we are all over again excited to be sleep-deprived and routine-less and all of the other stuff that will go with trying TWO kids on for size this time.