Becoming a mama is a very insightful journey to say the least…
1. I can get over my fear of germs…
Oh yes. Maybe not completely but I am no longer the germophobe that I once was. Having a baby means a lot of snot, dribble, sick and to be blunt – shit. I never used to share food or drink with anyone and since having a toddler, who I constantly share everything with, I just got over it. I had to get over my fear of sticking my hand down a toilet since one of his favourite things to do is throw my personal belongings down it. I have also become one of those typical mums that picks their child’s nose, because it’s gotta be done – but I mean that’s nothing compared to some of the nappies that I’ve had to deal with… Basically as long as those germs are from my own offspring then it’s all good 😉
2. I’ll realise just how much I took sleep for granted…
Everyone says it. But honestly, until it actually happens to you – you. have. no. idea. Ever since Reuben turned one, he’s slept like an absolute dream child, usually down at 7pm, sometimes later depending on naps, but he doesn’t get up on a morning until 9-10am most days. On top of that he has a 3 hour afternoon nap and honestly, I don’t think I would be where I am work wise if it wasn’t for all the sleeping he does. However, a year ago when he was around 4/5 months old it was a totally different story… he was up all throughout the night and I was exhausted 24/7. We’d have periods of a couple of good weeks and then he’d go through a growth spurt, regression, teething… you name it and it was back to square one. I take my hat off to parents who still deal with it when they’re toddlers because I couldn’t cope with it again! Even now, when he is poorly or teething and isn’t sleeping through the night, I wake up feeling like an utter zombie. And that’s after one night.
3. I’ll never leave the house without 18474893 things…
Long gone are the days of grabbing my phone, purse and waltzing out the door. Now I can’t step a foot outside without not just a baby in tow, but with a Mary Poppins sized bag full of a hundred different objects that I’ve no idea how I manage to cram in. Can’t go anywhere without baby wipes, nappies, nappy bags, spare clothes, toys to keep said baby entertained, juice, snacks, plus the rest. And then there’s my belongings to think about, phone, purse, concealer, lipstick, coffee… and lots of it.
4. I’ll spend 95% of my life cleaning…
The. Worst. Ever. I think if there’s one thing I could say I don’t particularly like about motherhood, it’s bloody cleaning!!! I never seem to stop. How does one child go through so many clothes in two days? Why is the bathroom bin full to the brim of dirty nappies within three hours? Why does my toddler insist on throwing all his food on the floor when he’s had enough? Why does he insist on getting out every single toy he owns and spreading them around the house like it’s fashionable?
5. I’m a much stronger person than I thought…
Did I ever see myself running a business from home whilst raising a one year old all on my own? Did I hell. But I did it, and this is my life now, and I manage. Do I ever cry on really shit days? Nope. Do I know why I don’t have a breakdown at least once a week? No idea, it’s a miracle and it baffles me daily. Just like anyone else I get very stressed but I have learnt to cope with situations and I usually just need a nice long sleep and I’m okay. You do what you gotta do to survive.
6. I can do my makeup in 0.7 seconds…
Ok, not quite… but still. Even a year ago today I still took about an hour to get ready on a morning and these days I can have a full face and hair done in 5 mins. I’ve never been one of those girls who can get ready in a rush on a morning, but now I am. I usually don’t have to since my child loves a good long lie in on a morning but sometimes it’s a necessity if I wake up late, or I suddenly have to be somewhere within 10 minutes. It’s surprising what you can force yourself to do when the mum life takes over.
7. A hot bubble bath is a gift sent from the gods…
I don’t think I ever knew just how much I would appreciate a bubble bath after a long and stressful day. There *may* be the exception of the third trimester of pregnancy here, as hot baths were a pretty big essential during that time. But I can’t tell you what I’d do without a bath. It’s the one and only thing that chills me out after a long, tiring day being a mummy. I don’t have these days all the time, but kids are hard work and these days do occur quite often. Gimme all the lush products pls.
8. My house will look like Toys R Us…
Have you watched my instagram stories? Have you seen my house? If you didn’t know it was my house, you might actually think I live in a toy shop. The amount of toys that you buy for one child is ridiculous. I actually have a whole section of my living room dedicated to being a play area. But does it stop there? Oh no, there are toys shoved into every nook and cranny of the house, including my beautiful gold shelves and my gorgeous wicker basket. I can’t escape toys, they suffocate me.
9. I’ll put my baby first, before anyone and everything else…
Like now for example as I have to stop and make him some dinner before I can finish this blog post, because there has been a whining toddler climbing on me for the past 20 minutes. But all jokes aside, he does and always will come first. I don’t think you can quite comprehend that before you have a little egg of your own but I will sacrifice everything to protect my lil munchkin.
10. I’ll feel a love like nothing else…
I thought I felt it whilst I was pregnant but until my baby was in my arms, I had no idea just how much he meant to me. *every mother says this – bore* but it’s so true. It’s probably easier for me to say it since I’m single anyway, but I just can’t imagine being in love with someone and ever feeling the same way about them as I do my own child. It really is such a special and unique bond ya know?
Also I do realise Reuben is 16 months now but cut me a little slack since I’m trying to make more of an effort to post more parenting content kay? All I want to know is, how he’s going to be one and a half soon erm, how the hell did that happen??
