As an expectant mother, you’ve likely been given the classic advice: “Sleep now while you still can.” Oh, really? As if you can actually stockpile sleep for later! It’s tough to get a solid night’s rest when your little one is kicking your bladder every few hours.
When you become a new mom, the advice shifts to “Sleep when the baby sleeps.” Right. As if that’s even possible! I was aware that parenthood would bring fatigue, and my partner Sam and I were indeed worn out from caring for our newborn, but we somehow managed to survive those sleepless nights.
Those first few weeks were a blur of feeding, diaper changes, and short naps. We even carved out time for real meals and the occasional shower. We took strolls around the neighborhood, which often synced up with our baby’s notorious witching hour. We were exhausted, but somehow we still felt somewhat human.
When our son was about four weeks old, we hosted a small gathering at our place. Several guests remarked in surprise, “Wow, you look good! You actually look rested!” And you know why I appeared so refreshed? Because taking care of a newborn is nothing compared to the energy required to keep up with a 6-month-old who’s just learned to crawl.
A few weeks before Christmas, I found myself on the floor wrapping presents while our son practiced tummy time. Suddenly, he pushed himself up onto his hands and almost onto his knees, rocking back and forth. I paused, locking eyes with Sam. Something significant was happening.
Before we knew it, our little one was scooting across the carpet, teething on a roll of wrapping paper. Christmas quickly evolved into a whirlwind of cleaning up pine needles and making sure ornaments were out of reach, all while rewrapping gifts.
Not long after mastering the army crawl, our son discovered the stairs. I was in the kitchen, thinking he was safe since he was still relatively immobile. I was wrong. I watched in disbelief as he placed one hand on the first step, then the other. And then, to my horror, he lifted his butt off the ground.
“No way,” I thought, but there he was, on his feet. I raced to support him as he climbed the entire flight of stairs in one go. At the landing, he crawled to the front door and banged on it, which has now become one of his favorite pastimes.
This milestone sent both Sam and me into a panic. With crawling and climbing came a whole new set of challenges. Our son began pulling himself up on everything—the couch, the coffee table, even my pants! This resulted in a few tumbles, prompting us to cushion our sharp-edged furniture and install foam padding everywhere.
His belly crawl quickly transitioned into a swift hands-and-knees hustle. He’s into everything now—up the stairs, down the hall, and even trying to climb into his bouncer. Flushing the toilet has become a new fascination (so bathroom doors are now always shut), and he’s constantly trying to do chin-ups on the dining room table.
Now, I’m not just tired—I’m completely drained. I thought I was exhausted when we first brought him home, but now? I’m utterly spent. And he’s already on the verge of walking!
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In summary, the fatigue of motherhood evolves as your child grows. From the initial sleepless nights with a newborn to the whirlwind of energy required to keep up with a crawling infant, prepare yourself for an entirely new level of exhaustion. As challenging as it is, each milestone brings its own joys and surprises.