2015, July: Thank You, All of You

One of the reasons I am struggling with motherhood is because I'm an extremely competitive person. To the point that if I cannot be the best at something, I don't want to do it. If I can study to get better at something, I will. If it takes natural talent and I'm no good? I tend to give up. (Kind of like how Hermione was no good at flying and no amount of time in the library could help her). So I'm constantly annoyed that I can't study to get better at being a mother. That I can't get all the answers right and walk away with my A grade. And there's certainly no chance that I can give up.

I also have envy issues. Several friends have recently had babies. If their child didn't spend any time in the NICU - I'm envious. If they post a photo of themselves with their baby and their eyes are NOT puffy and bloodshot from hours/days/weeks of crying - I'm envious. If their baby sleeps - I'm envious. Social media paints an incredibly rosy picture of motherhood. I mean, look at my own feed and you'd think Declan was a permanently happy baby and that I never spend Saturday mornings screaming that I cannot cope for one more minute before locking myself in the bedroom and making Christian entertain the kid all day.

The one thing that gets me through? That helps me open the bedroom door and give Declan a cuddle? That helps me persevere with "aggressive sleep training" (my term) and will get me through whatever challenge is coming next? You lot. The people who comment on my blog and Facebook posts and, even more, the people who send me private messages and emails or call. Not to give me advice (I don't want advice!), but to tell me your stories. Your crying in the NICU, your struggles with breastfeeding, your lack of sleep. The people who know that the oft-touted phrase "it gets better" is not the whole truth. Yes, it gets better, but then it gets worse then better then worse then better ad infinitum. You give me the reality that I desperately need, you remind me that I'm not alone. Thank you, all of you. Keep the stories coming. xxx

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