Navigating the First Year of Motherhood: 3 Little Reminders for New Moms

Becoming a mom is one of the most incredible things that has ever happened to me, but it did not come without hardship. In the first year of motherhood, I learned three important yet simple lessons.

I like to call them my little reminders, and I hope they can help you navigate through your journey as a new mom.

1. Everything is temporary 

This little reminder helped me in the early days when I wasn’t getting much sleep and was questioning everything I was doing. Knowing that this stage would pass and that it does get easier helped me through. Along with the hard days being temporary, we must remember that the good days are also temporary. I don’t say this to bum you out but to help you realize that we must enjoy the good moments. We need to soak them in for as long as we can. In those moments, I hug my baby girl a little tighter, taking mental pictures of her.

2. Take pictures 

Speaking of pictures… make sure to take them! Whether this means you are using your phone or booking a photoshoot, get some memories documented.

This reminder is not meant to stress you out. I don’t always like having my phone on me, so I’m not always taking pictures of everything. When a special moment happens, or my daughter does something cute, I grab my phone and take a quick snap. It’s fun to look back at all the pictures I’ve taken over the last year. Seeing how much she’s grown and having a few more reminders of those moments are meaningful to me.

A side note: Make sure YOU, yes, you mama, are getting in front of the camera as well. You might not feel your best; your hair might be unwashed, or there's spit up on your shirt but don't let that stop you. Some of my favorite pictures are the ones I almost didn't take because I didn't like how I looked at that moment. But guess what? Days, weeks, or months later, you will look at that picture and be so glad you took it because it captures a magical moment of you and your baby.

3. Trust yourself

In the very beginning, when my daughter was first born, I researched everything. I read article after article. I watched videos. I scrolled through so many comments on social media. I felt exhausted and anxious. I felt like a failure.

You can only do so much research before you feel overwhelmed and start questioning and second-guessing yourself. Social media can be great, but it can also be confusing for a new mom when there are opinions about EVERY. LITTLE. THING.

I slowly learned that I know what’s best for my daughter. When I limited my time on social media and stopped googling everything, I felt more at ease as a mom.

Trust your instincts; you got this, mama!