Day 24: Parenthood

26 Feb 2008

Quote: "Having a baby is not just adding another pair of socks to the laundry. It is a responsibility and an adventure, an experience that alters that relationship between you and your mate, you and the larger world and creates an entirely new relationship for you."

Quote: "It more often takes six months to a year to lose the weight put on during pregnancy. This should not come as such a surprise - after all, it took nine months to produce a baby, it's not unreasonable to take nine months to reverse the enormous changes pregnancy made in your body."

Quote: "In the early months, it's better to try to accept a little chaos; having a baby is not a tidy experience. In time, you and your baby will develop a rhythm. Your baby will settle into a schedule, sleep longer, and at the same time you will start to feel more confident and competent."

Quote: "Birth will not magically transform either your husband or you into perfect, new wave parents. It is essential for the two of you to have time alone together, without the baby. Take it slowly and give each other a lot of leeway in these early months."

Quote: "A newborn does not cry to get your goat or to manipulate you. These tiny creatures are not yet capable of such adult motives. A newborn cries to get her needs met; she has no other means of communication. Responding to cries does not encourage a baby to cry more often. Indeed, studies show that babies who are attended to promptly cry less. Your quick response assures her that she lives in a safe, dependable environment."

Quote: " Your baby's personality will play a role in the kind of mother you are. It's important to give yourself the gift of flexibility. No one is perfect, and no one can predict how she will feel as a parent before she becomes one. Allow yourself to be human, and to change your mind!"


http://www.indiaparenting.com/articles/data/art07_004.shtml