Lessons I’ve learned in my first year of being a mum.

Now that miss Harper has turned one, my pals at @Huggiesau asked me to share a few lessons I’ve learned in my first year of being a Mum. We hope these lessons will resonate with you and provide reassurance, that even when the going gets tough, you are doing an incredible job as a parent

Motherhood for me isn’t just about day-to-day survival, despite how it often feels. I’ve learned that it is about appreciating fleeting moments and guiding Harper as she discovers herself in this ever-changing world. Just seeing the world through her curious and innocent eyes is so special. It has also been about becoming a new person myself. A stronger, braver, more confident, and more empathetic person. This brings me to my first lesson:

1. I must ask for and accept help. The hardest part of becoming a mum for me was that I suddenly needed to ask for help to be able to complete the most basic of tasks. I needed to ask for help to be able to shower, go to the grocery store, to be able to make time to eat. I wasn’t used to asking for help, but over the last year, I’ve gotten better. I’ve learned that asking for and receiving help is not a sign of weakness, but rather strength. One year on and I still speak to my psychologist monthly about my mental health and for that I’m proud.

2. Babies don’t need much. They just need to be fed, clothed, cleaned and LOVED. Spending lots of money on a baby isn’t necessary, so don’t feel the pressure to purchase all the bells and whistles until you figure out what you and your baby really need. My most used and valued items over the last year include:

   • My @Tasmaneco change table - it saved my back.
   • Of course the @Huggiesau Ultimate nappy range - they still keep Harper Dry and comfortable and provide the best care for her soft and sensitive skin. Plus, I never have to deal with leakage overnight, now that she is sleeping through.
   • Our @Bugaboo Fox 2 pram - we still use it every day
   • @Boori Oval Cot which we used for Harper as a newborn and still sleeps to this day.
   

3. The fog does lift. No matter how dark, lonely, and monotonous the days seem, time will pass and it WILL get easier. For me, it was around the 9-month mark. Prior to that Harper’s sleep was awful and I wasn’t getting more than a 2hr block. We were in lockdown, I was neck-deep in grief and there were times when I didn’t think I was going to make it… but I did, and Harper learned to sleep better with age and it almost all feels like a distant memory now. One year on, I feel much more like myself.

4. I won’t love every minute of being a mum and that’s OK. There will be days when you just want to hide to have your own space or you just want your child to go to sleep to let you breathe. This does not mean you are a bad mum, it just means you are human.

5. It’s important to make time to do things for myself. If you do not take care of yourself, you cannot give your best to your family. We only have one body and only we know how to care for it best. Whatever it is that makes you feel like yourself regularly, do it. For me, I love to work out and also just be alone with myself.

   

For all the new mums out there - remember, despite what each day brings - you got this.

Love, Katie x