As a new Mom there are surprises that friends, books and websites don’t prepare you for exactly.

Everyone told me before my baby was born:
A.    Sleep deprivation would be the worst
B.    The first year I’d be in a daze most of the time
C.    Life as I knew it would be gone forever
 
Were they right?  Yawn…Sometimes.

I was home for six months. When my baby didn’t sleep I was very tired. People told me to sleep when the baby naps but it wasn’t always possible. Sometimes naptime was the only time I could eat, shower, dress, or email. Some days he forgot to nap. The good thing about the early days was it didn’t matter what I wore or if I didn’t shower until later. My son didn’t care and my husband was too tired to notice.

At 6 and ½ months my son started to sleep through the night when I returned to work. Of course, he started teething and waking up nights again. It hasn’t been easy getting up early each day and starting work at 8:30 a.m. Sleep becomes a luxury. It’s true. Your brain really requires sleep to function well.

In a daze the first year: Who me?
On days when the baby sleeps I’ll respond that B isn’t true.
On other days I might not respond….quickly. When I’m on top of work and home to-do lists it seems like I’m juggling everything successfully. For now, that won’t be everyday. As long as my son is doing well that’s okay.

Friends chuckled as they welcomed me to the new parents club. They said, “No more fine dining, overseas travel, (fill in the blank).” They forgot to tell me the secret. Once you hold your baby for the first time you would not trade him or her for anything. My love affair with my little man began at birth and will last forever.