Hey mama (or daddy)!
If you find yourself losing your s*** when your baby cries even though you absolutely love them deeply and want them to “just be okay,” I am here for you. Also, step one is going to be congratulating yourself because a parent that gets overwhelmed sometimes is a parent that truly cares and tries. Step two involves accepting that you are not, in fact, superhuman. You are human and so is your child, therefore both of you are bound to cry sometimes. It is what it is.
Now that we’ve established those two things, here are my top beliefs (that I have to consciously remind myself of daily) to help you calm down and be present to truly help your baby regulate as well.
#1: Lower your expectations and your to-do list.
Although Instagram and TikTok may lead you to believe it should be possible to do anything and everything while taking care of a baby, it is absolutely not. The sooner you accept this, the better you’ll feel.
#2: Caretaking is the HARDEST task on the planet.
You are not weak or unworthy if you feel like you are struggling. Taking care of other humans who fully rely on you for their wellbeing is extremely difficult. Let’s call it as it is.
#3: Every single baby is different.
What works for one baby may have the opposite or no effect on another. Unlike social media may make you think, simply having an expensive sound machine may not actually help your baby sleep! Do not get frustrated if one thing doesn’t work, just try something else.
#4: The one, true goal is unconditional love.
When I am overwhelmed and overthinking, I stop doing everything, give my baby a hug and remind myself my one, true goal is to immerse my family in unconditional love. Perfectionism can definitely kill unconditional love because it is putting conditions in place in order to be accepted!
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