By: Emily Carter
Updated: Aug. 21, 2015
Originally Published: Aug. 14, 2015
If you are nursing your newborn and experiencing immense discomfort, and no one prepared you for this painful part of motherhood, rest assured, it will improve. I assure you.
If your child isn’t yet sleeping through the night, and you’re questioning if it’s feasible to survive on such little rest, it will get better. I promise.
If your two-year-old responds to every single request with a firm NO!, it will improve. It may take until she is five or six years old, but it will get better. I promise.
If you signed your child up for basketball, yet he is too anxious to join in, and you worry he may never embrace team sports, it will get better. I promise.
If your child is about to start preschool in three weeks and can pee in the potty but insists on pooping only in a Pull-Up while hiding in the closet or behind the couch, and you fear you’ll be changing diapers until middle school, it will get better. One day, unexpectedly, he will use the potty for that too. I promise.
If you’ve had to replace toilets because your child flushed a Duplo block or a toy down the drain, and it got stuck where you can’t reach it, it will get better. I promise.
If your child suffers from motion sickness, requiring you to carry multiple changes of clothes and towels in your car, it will improve. They’ll likely outgrow it, and if not, they will at least learn to communicate when they need to stop. I promise.
If your child, out of the blue, starts wetting the bed at ages 7, 8, or 9, it will get better. This is just a phase. I promise.
If even the thought of jumping on a trampoline sends you into a panic because of your incontinence, well, unless you seek medical help, that might not improve. But know that you are not alone. I promise.
If your child cries uncontrollably the moment you hand them over to a babysitter, and you find yourself pulled off the treadmill ten minutes after starting, it will get better. Just keep at it. I promise.
If you’ve decided to avoid the beach because your child dives straight into the ocean and eats sand, making it impossible for you to relax, it will improve. One day, you will be able to read a book while your children play safely. I promise.
If your child’s favorite pastime involves splashing in the toilet or dog’s water bowl, rest assured it will get better. They will soon find more suitable toys to entertain themselves. I promise.
If you dread pool outings because you’re constantly preventing your 18-month-old from jumping in, it will improve. I promise.
If a trip to the playground means you spend the entire time pushing your child on the swings and hovering by the slide to prevent accidents, it will get better. One day, you’ll be able to sit back and watch her play independently. I promise.
If your three-year-old decides to give herself a haircut right before a family photo session, it will get better. You may cry in the moment, but you will eventually find humor in it. I promise.
If, while grocery shopping, your child asks a stranger about their beard or why someone behind you has breasts, the embarrassment will fade, and you’ll laugh about it later. I promise. And when your friends share similar stories, you’ll have your own anecdotes to share and chuckle about.
In fact, one day, you’ll look back on these experiences with fondness. Because eventually, your kids will become teenagers, and the challenges of potty training or the chaos of early childhood will seem like a walk in the park. I promise.
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Summary
This article offers encouragement to mothers facing the challenges of early parenting, reassuring them that difficult phases will improve over time, from breastfeeding struggles to toddler tantrums. It aims to provide solidarity and hope for those navigating the tumultuous journey of motherhood.