I’ve felt the need to write this post for a while now. I’ve found parts of parenting quite difficult (everyone tells me I’m a natural, but really I’m not). To be more specific, I’ve found certain stages of parenting difficult, that’s not because I can’t handle the pressure, but because, unfortunately for myself and my partner, at most stages we have faced some sort of hurdle.
I won’t go into the details right now, I’ll save these for future posts (or I may have blogged about it already). The hurdles haven’t been anything serious, but I just want to reassure other parents, and myself, that no matter how challenging parenting can be, if you have a happy and healthy baby, or child, you are doing something right. Thank your lucky stars.
If you are lucky enough to conceive with no complications, or even with complications that you have overcome. Thank your lucky stars.
If you have a straight forward labour with no complications. Thank your lucky stars.
If you gave birth to a healthy baby with no complications. Thank your lucky stars.
The above apply to me, so I thank my lucky stars.
If you’re baby breastfeeds (if you want to breastfeed). Thank your lucky stars.
If your baby doesn’t suffer with colic or reflux. Thank your lucky stars.
If your baby sleeps well. Thank your lucky stars.
If your baby weans well and eats well. Thank your lucky stars.
The above is what we have struggled with so far. Lamb didn’t latch, and I wanted to breastfeed more than anything. Lamb suffered with colic until he was 6 months. Lamb is now 17 months and doesn’t sleep through. Lamb doesn’t eat much, and we struggle to get him to eat anything at all most days.
But Lamb is happy, he is healthy and rarely gets poorly, he is developing well, and most importantly he is loved. So I thank my lucky stars.
Short and sweet, but to the point. I thank my lucky stars I have a healthy boy. This is what I tell myself daily, to balance out the worries of Lamb not eating, or the stress of him not sleeping.
Yes, I’ve been faced with challenges, challenges that not all parents face, but we are overcoming them one by one and becoming stronger and happier as we do.
Finally, i’d like to say, if you have a loving partner, your child has a hands on father, and you all have a supportive family, like I do. Thank your lucky stars.
If you find yourself spiralling into a ‘dark cloud’ of worry and stress, ask yourself what good you have around you, what others may not necessarily have, and thank your lucky stars.
Alex xx
