Being a Mom by

Melinda Gardner

My first baby arrived on April fools day - 10 days early. Of course, everyone thought we were playing a joke, but we weren’t! I’m not sure anyone is ever really “ready” to be a parent and we all know the jokes about how they hand you this tiny baby and let you leave the hospital with it! It’s incredibly exciting, overwhelming, and a little frightening right?

I really enjoy talking with moms about their experiences—all kinds of moms, all ages of children. Because we all need someone with whom we can talk to about things, get ideas from, hear about someone else’s experience and wisdom, and listen to the crazy stories and the things we all get “wrong”!

Here are a few things I “know” about being a mother:

1. It will be hard. You won’t always know what to do. That’s okay. This too shall pass.

2. You don’t have to be perfect, because you won’t be! Be patient with your child, and with yourself. Breathe.

3. Try to enjoy this. Older moms always tell younger moms to enjoy this time because kids grow up so fast. That’s true. But it’s also hard to be the mama of tiny little kids who never stop moving and talking and demanding something from you!

4. What works for one of your kids won’t work for another one. They are individuals and one size doesn’t fit all! We have to learn how to play with, teach, discipline etc. them all in ways that work for that child. You’ll know what to do.

5. Write down the funny things your kid says right when it happens. You think you’ll never forget, but you will. I started journals when I was pregnant with my daughters and wrote the funny things they said in them as they grew. Just a date and a quote. It’s one of their favorite things to read - and we laugh so hard at how funny and cute they were.

6. Be careful with your words. I was in a store last week and heard a father tell his little girl, probably about 3 years old, that she was a liar. She had told him she was tired. There were so many things he could have said to diffuse that situation instead of belittling her. Our words matter so much.

7. Find the support you need. From your own mom or dad, great friends, other parents, your church, or a neighborhood group.

Check out the Apple Pregnancy Care Center in Eau Claire. We have an amazing program that pregnant women, and moms and dads can come to for support, education and encouragement. You can learn about pregnancy, childbirth, and much more after your baby is here. You can receive maternity and baby clothing, diapers, formula, car seats, cribs, toys and so much more. Our program is here at no cost to you and we’ve been in Eau Claire for over 40 years.

We’re here for you. Call us at 715834-5254 for more information or to make an appointment.