The first six months of our baby’s life have been a whirlwind for me as a new mum. It’s been a time filled with incredible challenges and difficult situations, with a sprinkle of heartwarming moments if I could muster the energy to notice them! We’ve soldiered on through struggles with nursing pillows, depressive mood, and a common cold. Now we’ve reached the 6-month mark, I’m reflecting on two of the profound lessons that I’ve learned through my journey of early parenthood.

Kind of Consistent

One crucial lesson we’ve learned is the importance of finding a balance between routine for our bubba and managing other commitments like social appointments. In my professional life, I’m accustomed to tight schedules and regular appointments, and then at home, we used to be more flexible and spontaneous. It’s still hard for me adjusting my planning and timing to help our daughter settle into life in our home.

Just like other babies (so I’ve heard), our bubsy-boo generally reacts best to predictability, so establishing a fairly consistent daily routine has made life quite a lot easier for us as the main caregivers. Routine and regularity provide a sense of security for her, and that seems to help us regulate sleep patterns and feeding schedules, and has also significantly reduced the witching hours.

We still have doctor’s appointments, parent-baby groups, and coffee dates, though, which are important too, and I’m getting better and better at adapting the routine to fit in around these commitments. If I’m honest, I still miss the flexibility and freedom of baby-free life, and often yearn for activity-packed days where I can really get s**t done! But getting into a routine makes bubba’s behaviour less chaotic and unpredictable, which allows us as parents to plan our days more effectively and find the balance that (most of the time) works for us!

Parenting Priorities

The other invaluable lesson we’ve learned is about setting our own parenting priorities. This is what I would now say to other new parents: When something is truly important to you in terms of how you want your child to be integrated into your life, you will find ways to make it work. It doesn’t matter what other people or parents may say.

I’m the first to admit that I get easily overwhelmed by well-intentioned advice and societal expectations. I was upset when our midwife or other friends condescendlingly responded to our ideas of how things could work in our new little family. And I’ve learned that I have to remind myself that my husband and I are the experts on our family’s needs and values, and that those are the things I need to prioritise!

Making sure both of us are involved in feeding through the night, or sitting our little one at the dining table in a suitable baby seat from birth are some things that people told us would be impossible hopes but we have managaed to do. But whether it’s these or other elements of life like pursuing a hobby, maintaining social connections,going on holiday, or continuing with your career: if it’s meaningful to you and enhances your overall well-being, you’ll find ways to fit it into your new stage of life as parents. The key lies in adapting and finding a harmony that works for your family.

After all, we’re not “just” mums and dads! While we are of course commmitted to nurturing our children, we also need to stay true to our own passions and beliefs. I particulary felt I’d lost myself when I didn’t find the energy and courage to do this in the early days. But I’m convinced it’s important to model to our little ones that a fulfilling life is one where they see us pursuing our own dreams and interests, even as we nurture theirs.

Summing Up Six Months

The first six months of a baby’s life are filled with challenges and development – for both the infant and parents! Honestly, the first half a year of motherhood has swept me into a whirlwind of WTF, but in the last 6 months I’ve at least learned these two main things that I think it’s important to tell other new parents.

Firstly, the delicate dance between establishing a routine for our bubba and managing social commitments, hobbies, etc. has proven crucial. Shifting my planning to ease our daughter into our home is still challenging, but a (kind of) consistent daily routine brings welcome stability and more peaceful evenings.

Secondly, the invaluable lesson of setting our own parenting priorities. Seemingly against well-intentioned ‘warnings’ from all around, we have found ways to do the things that genuinely matter to us when it comes to integrating parenting into our lives. Overall, any family life requires everyone to find the harmonious balance that suits them — we’re not merely “parents” but individuals with passions, values, and lives to uphold!

OVER TO YOU: Tell me about the pivotal lessons you learned in the first six months of parenthood, beyond the practical how to change a nappy, what different body langauge means, etc! Share your insights – Your experiences can be a source of inspiration and support for fellow parents navigating this incredible journey. Comment below and let’s build a collaborative space where we can learn from each other’s stories! 💬