The birth of your child has been described as wonderful, unique and unforgettable. We weren't lying. What we didn't really tell you, however, is that becoming a parent changes almost everything. From your sleeping habits to your relationship as a couple, everything changes. At the same time, you have to learn everything, from how to feed your baby for the first time, to the new level of patience you'll need to find. That's right! The birth of a child is a huge upheaval. But is 9 months really enough time to become parents?
CONTENTS :
- A couple's decision and an act of love
- Is 9 months really enough time to become parents?
- The parent/baby relationship: coping with fatigue and stress
- Becoming parents and developing treasures of patience
- Having a child and working on versatility
- Discover parenthood and become the kings of organization
- Becoming parents and finding one's place within a couple that has become a family
- 5 parenting qualities you'll soon be able to brag about
A couple's decision and an act of love
Getting pregnant, having a baby, becoming parents... While giving birth can be expressed in many different ways, the decision is made by two people, alone and without outside intervention. Do you want a child, but haven't found your soul mate, and have you turned to MAP? The choice to become a parent was made between you and yourself, in the privacy of your heart.
Is 9 months really enough time to become parents?
Starting a family and going from two to three (or more) at home is a real upheaval, a storm, but not in a glass of water: in your whole life. So, it's true, you're taking advantage of 9 months to prepare to become parents, together. But is that enough? Will these few months, which pass like a few weeks, enable you to find all the answers to your questions and all the keys to the challenges that lie ahead?
Becoming a parent takes time and learning. So you can start your introduction to parenthood right from the first weeks of pregnancy by reading books and articles like this one, by listening to other parents' testimonials, or by interviewing your own, for example.
However, it's not impossible that once the baby's born, you'll feel at a loss. Even with two of you, no matter how meticulously prepared, no matter how well surrounded you are. Here, there's an adage that the Élhée team appreciates for having experienced it: "You're not born a parent, you become one" (thank you Françoise Dolto). So, trust each other, and don't be afraid to move forward hand in hand, to grope, and sometimes to take a step backwards, in order to make the leap forward.
When faced with doubts, cultivate benevolence
As a parent, nothing is more normal than to have doubts. If it hasn't happened to you before, you may need to familiarize yourself with this emotion. "Is this how we do it?" "Should I take him to the doctor now?" "Am I doing too much? Or not enough?" "Is my baby happy? Is he eating/sleeping/drinking/digging/growing... well?" In short, you've got it: it's time towelcome questions as they come, and trust your instincts as a parentno matter how new or inexperienced.
To achieve this, avoid comparisons and don't respond to injunctions. Leave aside what other parents do, what they think, what they say and how they see things. You are your child's parents, and apart from the opinions that matter to you, only your own are valuable.
At the same time, don't be afraid, let alone ashamed, to ask for help when you need it. Your parents, parents-in-law, friends and the medical staff you come into contact with during your baby's first months of life can give you advice.
Finally, to deal with doubts, cultivate kindness towards yourself. Be attentive to your own needs, and remember that as moms and dads, you're just starting out. Becoming a parent is a constant learning process that requires self-doubt and self-confidence. As a mother, matrescence is a state in its own right.
The parent-baby relationship: coping with fatigue and stress
Once your baby is born, you'll think that you've never been tired before. Right from the start, the nights are short and the wakings frequent. Soon, attention is constant and worry frequent. Fatigue is omnipresent, and can turn into physical, moral and emotional exhaustion.
Becoming parents and developing treasures of patience
As parents, you'll soon learn that some things are, and always will be, beyond your control. If baby refuses to sleep, there's not much you can do about it. All you can do is wait, so that you too can sleep, or so that you can work. As time goes by, parenthood will require you to be ever more patient, especially when you have to repeat, repeat and repeat again, or do and do again... without losing patience!
Having a child and working on versatility
Becoming a parent also means learning to multitask. Cradling and tidying, carrying and working, bottle-feeding and phoning... not always by choice, but often by necessity. As the months go by, you'll also discover the art of managing work, nursery, canteen and medical appointments all in the same day, or the joy of looking after your child while trying to maintain an independent social life. #multitasking
This is where the unbreakable baby bottle comes into its own! You drop it, it rolls.Drop it and it bounces. And if you like, baby can keep busy by playing with the cap.
Discover parenthood and become the kings of organization
With the birth of a baby comes the delivery of a tight schedule. In fact, if you can, take advantage of the pregnancy period to sleep and live as you please. Once your baby is born, you'll have almost as many appointments as wake-up calls, not to mention visits from friends and family. What's more, you'll have to reckon with mealtimes and siesta times, and look out for the "kid-friendly" label in restaurants or at your vacation destination.
Becoming parents and finding one's place within a couple that has become a family
When you first got together, it may have taken a while to find your own rhythm and balance. Having a child will call everything into question, at least temporarily. Your schedules are no longer the same, nor are your obligations and concerns. In fact, since you've become parents, you're different. More tired, more worried, you also have much less intimacy. To make the transition from couple mode to family mode, some people set aside one evening a week or one weekend a month, while others prefer to take a few minutes off each day, during a siesta for example. It's up to you to find your new way of working.
5 parenting skills you'll soon be able to brag about
- Observation
From the day your child is born, you'll develop an extremely precise sense of observation (and attention). No movement, no breathing, and later, no action or movement will escape your vigilance.
- Listening
Like Superwoman, you'll be able to detect your baby's breathing and recognize his cries from the very first moments, wherever you are. This is especially true at night, when he's lying alone in his cot.
- Creativity
A must with a baby! Whether you're trying to make him laugh, distract him or distract him from a tantrum, or you've forgotten his cuddly toy or changing bag, you'll need to be creative in many situations. Comedians, storytellers, singers... the life of an artist is yours!
- Flexibility
Personality, needs, communication or exceptional circumstances, parenthood will take its toll on you, and you'll need to adapt to avoid excess stress and move forward.
- And motor skills!
On the one hand, you'll learn how to gently put on a bodysuit by the head and apply pressure with one hand. On the other, you'll be able to screw on the bottle ring with two fingers and support baby in the bath with one hand. You'll also spend a lot more time squatting on a mat, exploring and playing. It's all about developing mobility.
The experience of parenthood offers everyone the opportunity to enrich their palette of roles. Whether you're a lover, a parent, a sportsman or a professional in a particular field, each facet combines with the others to create a whole, which makes up the richness of your personality.
The difficulty lies in finding a balance that allows you to juggle these multiple roles and responsibilities while remaining a happy, fulfilled parent.
Les biberons Élhée accompagneront votre bébé de la naissance jusqu'à 24 mois et plus, pour lui permettre une parfaite autonomie, sans risque de casse.
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