Hey there Mama. Yep, you over there…the one who is past her maternity leave, now balancing baby and home life with work. I don’t know about you, but as I stare at this bottle of “liquid gold”, I find myself annoyed and exhausted.
I know, I know. We should be grateful for the child we hold in our arms. We should be proud, knowing that our bodies created that beautiful baby, that our bodies are able to nourish another human being.
But sitting here at work, attached to a breast pump, I find myself annoyed.
My day is separated into four-hour increments. If I’m not nursing my baby, I’m attached to the pump. And that means pumping at work. I’m lucky, my office provides a comfortable room. But, let’s be honest…the act of pumping is just down right uncomfortable.
Every four hours, I sneak away. I find myself listening to the sounds of the pump, the quiet hums eventually turning into words, as if the pump is talking to me (it’s true!). I hear coworkers walking by and I panic, wondering if I remembered to lock the door.
I’m sure many of us have colleagues who wonder why new moms get so many breaks. But, little do they know, it’s anything but relaxing. We face so much stress making sure we get enough milk to feed our babies, all the while trying to keep up with work and our well-being.
But as I look at that little bottle, I know it will help my baby grow. I’ve shed plenty of tears, but in the end, it’s all worth it.
That’s the thing about being a mom. It doesn’t matter how difficult our day may be. Maybe you were up all night with a crying baby. Maybe you are stressed out, wondering how you can manage a demanding baby and get dinner on the kitchen table. Maybe you are crying because even though you should be happy, you are facing postpartum depression.
Whatever it is Mama, just know you are not alone. Somehow, we figure out how to power through those trying days.
As the saying goes, this too shall pass. And it will. This baby stage will give way to the toddler years and beyond. But you know what? Right now, you’re allowed to be annoyed. You’re allowed to complain. It doesn’t make any of us less of a mother.
So, the next time you’re staring at that breast pump, or pulling your hair out because of a crying baby, just remember…being a parent is tough. But through it all, you’ve got this Mama. We’re all in this together.