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Parenting is a roller coaster ride of emotions, challenges, joys, and worries. You are worried about doing what’s best for your baby and cannot help but question every action. From the time you learned that you were pregnant, you prepare for your baby’s arrival. You read all the books, magazines, and blogs, speak to the elders in the family, and gather all the required knowledge of raising a baby. While it is a magical experience to raise a newborn baby, some parents might spiral into a train of negative thoughts because they are worried, scared, and nervous about the little human in their arms. People around you have several opinions about how you should raise your baby, and you cannot help but wonder if you’re good enough. If this experience sounds familiar to you, fret not. Because you are not alone. You’re just a new parent.
As much as it is a magical and once in a lifetime opportunity to be a new parent and take care of your little one, it also gives some parents the nerves. Below we share with you negative thoughts as new parents, but as a reminder that you are not alone, and it is okay to feel overwhelmed:
1. Not Falling In Love With Your Baby Instantly
Movies, books, TV shows, and the general idea that parents fall in love with their newborn instantly might not always be accurate. But it puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the parents because of the romanticized idea of it. The common notion is that from the moment a baby is placed into a parent’s arms, they fall in love with their little one. But some parents might need a little more time to grow into this new feeling. They might feel disconnected from their baby or exhausted to feel any emotions, but it is normal to take time to bond with your baby.
2. Feeling Like You’re Not Good Enough
Your life will never be the same once you have a baby. The added responsibility and new roles that are expected from parents can be quite overwhelming. Many parents take a while to digest the feeling that a tiny human depends on them, which can be scary. They pressure themselves to be perfect at everything they do and often feel incompetent. But like everything else, parenthood is a process and happens in slow, gradual steps, and that is okay. The feeling that you are not enough for your baby can affect your mental health. Therefore, it is best to speak to your doctor. You will also realize that it’s normal for new parents to feel this way, and there is nothing unusual about it.
3. Fear Of The Unknown
Sure, you’ve been preparing yourself for the new responsibilities of parenthood. But the role of a parent can be new, scary, and even worrisome for some parents. Your baby becomes your priority, and you have to say goodbye to some parts of your former life. Those girls’ night outs, the romantic dates, the mini-vacations, weekend getaways, and movie nights will be replaced with diaper duties, sleepless nights, frequent visits to the pediatrician, and breastfeeding. Many parents have a fear of letting go of their life before they become parents. It happens with time and occurs slowly.
4. Feeling Stuck But Not Wanting To Be Away From Your Baby
Parents are so caught up with baby duties that they tend to feel like they want some time away from the baby. But at the same time, they do not want to be separated from them. You get sucked into a vortex of your baby’s world, and it may get overwhelming and taxing. You are not alone to feel this way, so do not feel guilty. You could ask your family or friends to pitch in and watch your baby while you rest, relax, or spend some time alone.
Being a parent is a scary, exciting, and incredible journey. But for some parents, it takes time to grow into their roles as parents, which is entirely normal. Don’t let yourself be bogged down by others’ opinions of parenthood and embrace this new exciting phase of your life because you are not alone in the journey of parenthood. What are your thoughts on this article? Comment below and let us know.
