I’m learning this all too well these days. Apparently I deserve it. I have never considered myself very judgmental. Maybe this slap on the hand will fix me?!
What am I referring to? Babies!
When I had my first child (6 years ago), all of my friends were having their first baby at the same time. It was amazing having that experience and raising our kids together. We were all going through the ups and downs together.
The first time I caught myself secretly judging? Pregnancy fog! Never happened to me. I would tell my husband they had to be making it up or over reacting. There was no way that pregnancy messed with your brain to the point you would forget things.
Then, I got pregnant for the 3rd time. I’m telling you my brain went to mush. I tried having the same conversation with my husband 2 and 3 times a day…probably 5 minutes apart. He would tell me he was going somewhere and then I would angrily text him “Where the hell are you?” shortly after he walked out the door (I promise the angry part was my hormones…I get bitchy when I’m pregnant).
He would laugh it off and remind me of our conversation(s). Then comment that pregnancy was really screwing with my head.
I’m here to tell you…PREGNANCY FOG IS REAL! Thank you karma for putting me in my place. Mine hung around for several weeks after the baby was born. My husband may argue it never left.
The second time I caught myself being all judgy (that’s a word right)? Babies that are oversensitive to their surroundings and cannot sleep unless under certain circumstances.
I promise you right now where I stand…I am a changed woman!! I will never again judge what another mom does. OK, I will try my best not to.
My friend used to have to go home at certain times to create just the right environment for her baby to nap during the day. Most nights they slept in the same bed. Nothing wrong with that. However, I would find myself wondering what she was doing wrong. How could her baby not fall asleep anywhere else? Why would she be sleeping in the guest room with the baby?
Yes, Karma! I get it. Please, please, please end the lesson now.
My 3rd baby has shown me oversensitive sleeper. At night, she is a champ! From two weeks old she was sleeping at least 6 hours when she first went down. Still does. However, during the day she cannot sleep! Doesn’t matter what we do. It’s like she physically can’t stay asleep.
We go 6-7 hours at a time where she tries really hard! We’ve tried swaddling. Rocking her. Holding her. Walking around. Feeding her until she sleeps. A binky. Glider chair. You get the point! The only thing that sometimes gives us relief is belly sleeping. Even that isn’t a guarantee.
She seems to calm down and will sleep with me. It doesn’t help because I have 2 other kids to take care of during the day. As much as I’d love to just nap all day, It’s not an option! So shortly after I get up…so does she!
Tonight, after 3 hours of trying to help her stay asleep, I laid down with her in our bed. It worked pretty quickly. I only had to go back in twice after that (a miracle really). My husband and I decided at that moment that if she stayed down for the night, she could have our king size bed! We would sleep anywhere else so as not to disturb her.
They say all things come in threes. I’m hoping they are wrong because I really am not looking forward to Karma’s third lesson.
What could it possibly be?
Learn from my mistakes. Stop judging other mom’s! The world (and karma) will be much kinder.