Lesson of the Day: Trust Your Instincts

*VIDEO*

As a new mom, the biggest thing I struggle with is trusting my instincts when it comes to my child. I never considered myself to be a naturally maternal person, which laid the foundation for all these doubts I have about myself as a mother. Don't get me wrong--I know I'm doing a good job with Ford. However, I'm still learning to trust my maternal instincts.

For example, I get paranoid when his teachers mention things to me that they're "worried about." For a while it's been his development because he's not sitting up on his own nor rolling all over the floor like the other babies. They also keep asking me about starting him on solid food. Yesterday, it was a sore on his body that they were concerned about. Now, I love his teachers. They are fantastic. But for a new mom who already doubts herself a lot, these questions can create some paranoia and a little bit of anxiety. So here's what I keep telling myself (or have David reaffirm for me):

1. Ford is FIIIIIINE. Babies do things on their own time, in their own way. He's learning and growing and changing every day. He's fine. Really.
2. Not knowing when to do things or how to do things is what books are for. And doctors. And friends who are nurses at Riley Children's Hospital. And moms. And sisters who have kids. To everyone else -- sorry, I'm not listening to you. The way I raise my child is different from the way anyone else raises their child. And that's okay. Just as Ford does things his own way, I do things my own way. I'm not a perfect mother, but I'm doing things the way I want to do them. And at the end of the day, if Ford isn't eating solids but all his friends are, who cares! I don't want to do it until 6 months because that's my decision. Let's review #1 again: he's FIIIIIINE.
3. There IS such a thing as maternal instinct. I never believed it until I had a baby of my own. The hard part is learning to trust it, but I get better at it each time my initial feeling toward something ends up being right all along. (That "sore" on his body, by the way, is nothing. Just irritation, which is what I thought in the first place. Nothing a little cortizone can't fix--and a reaffirmation from his doctor.)

To summarize: babies are different; I should always go with my gut; and Ford is FIIIIIINE. :)

Does this look like a baby that's NOT fine? I don't think so.

Categories: the kids