Maternal wisdom

Claudia is expecting a baby - and in her hormonal state, she thought I might have some wisdom to impart to her. This is a mistake for a number of reasons:

1. I became a mother a decade ago - couple that with the extreme sleep deprivation and I'm surprised I can remember anything about it at all.
2. Newborns scare me. I know I have had sole responsibility of a brace of them and should really have conquered my fears by now, but there is something of the unexploded bomb about babies which makes me twitchy.
3. My own offspring have moments of such extreme foulness (don't talk to me about school drop off today) that I can only conclude that my template is not one you would be well advised to follow.

However, I like Claudia very much, so when she asked for a guest post, that's what she got. It's up over Aux petits oiseaux. She's after pearls of maternal wisdom - you might like to leave her some of yours. I have no more to give - mine have all been strewn before the little swine who live with me and ignore everything I say to them.

 

Comments

[Monica]

heading over there right now... I need all the advice I can get!

[dottycookie]

I do it all wrong so very regularly that I don't think I'm qualified to give anyone advice.

Mind you, Tall Small is off (mildly) sick today and we seem to be having a happy day. We've even managed two sessions of violin practice without any complaints. It's a miracle.

[Jennifer]

isn't it amazing that swine come in such adorable packages...

[lina]

I loved your thoughts, so well written and true. Like all children, mine regularly push me to the brink of insanity(getting out of the door every morning) but equally give me unbeatable moments of joy, belly aching laughter and pride. I have answered Clo's questions too, I'm hoping not to scare her off by sharing too many details of my labours...

[Claudia]

Oh Ali,
How can you say that I made a mistake when I asked you to help me ;)

Your text is wonderful...so wonderful that it will be on my fridge so whenever I'm in the kitchen I will know what do do : lower my expectations!

Thank you so much again. You are the best!!!
xox

[Gina]

What you speak of here sounds exactly like my own experience of motherhood. For most of the time I felt I was winging it!

[Julie]

You'd never believe that those two smiling boys in that gorgeous photo could ever have moments of extreme foulness! I certainly found motherhood a bit of a shock after the peaceful calm of pregnancy and there has been a lot more shouting than I ever anticipated (most of it from me)!

[nina - tabiboo]

I couldn't do it again - I know I had three, but foulness on a daily basis that leaves this poor mum feeling frazzled and very, very old....sorry not very encouraging at all.

I guess enjoy every moment, take it slow - don't be rushed and listen to your own instincts - don't be pushed.

Nina xxx

[little pink room]

Ha ha! Yes, mine continually get one over on me (ages 5 & 2), I can't believe that they were ever helpless little babbas!

[TheMadHouse]

Isnt that what parenting is all about? I bumble around at motherhood at the best of time

[Amanda]

Great post. That's the thing about kids. They can see-saw between angelic and foul and back again in an instant. My challenge is not to follow suit. My success varies.

[Amaranthine]

Been there, read it and come back to say how brilliant you are. Perfect advice for the expectant Mum. Well done. x

[Thimbleanna]

You're so funny! Those certainly don't look like little swine to me -- they're adorable. The bad news is that they'll get worse about listening to you -- the good news is that then they'll get better! ;-)

[Jennifer]

Tee-hee! What a delightful post! Just this morning, I was thinking I should have read the fine print about this motherhood gig before I took the job. You know, the details like:
"Must drag self out of bed on too little sleep at unholy hour (5am) and prepare healthy, delicious breakfast that cherubs will refuse to eat and exclaim smells disgusting, and then must patiently ignore tantrums that ensue before 6am when cherubs are denied cookies as alternative breakfast..."

[Laura]

Oh, yes. Truer words were never spoken!!!

[Lynn]

I loved both posts, even though I am now shuddering as I remember my own new-baby boot camp. My firstborn took 26 hours to emerge (posterior babies unite!), and in spite of the gentle, low-light, hushed-voice environment that was supposed to ensure that he would be mellow and peaceful, he shot out onto the dining room carpet squalling his head off. And then proceeded to nurse every 5.7 minutes for the next three years.

[Emma]

Ignore you say? My girls could give your boys a run for their money in that area I'm sure. The rollercoaster ride can be utterly horrifying but then there are those moments, like when my two constructed a secret carpet picnic complete with bunting and then invited me, that completely blow me away.

[Rhu]

We could write a motherhood book, they seem to sell like hotcakes! :)