Once I became a parent, I quickly realized I had no idea what I was doing. Most of my assumptions were wrong. Yet from the first hour with the baby, the hospital staff seemed to be leaving us to our own devices. At the time, I wondered if that was the best idea, particularly with the first breastfeeding episodes. It's only now I realize it may have been best, because once I started getting advice, we began to have problems. I have discovered the most important thing is to try something and then listen to myself and my baby to see if we are comfortable with it.
No one knows what they are doing. And if they say they do, they're lying. They know what (sometimes) worked FOR THEM in their circumstances, or what seems to make sense based on recurrent patterns in previously studied parent-child dyads.
Yet that doesn't mean advice is inherently bad - quite the opposite, in fact. As a new parent, I find myself avidly reading advice from multiple sources, seeking out (often diametrically opposed) medical opinions, and connecting with as many parents as I can, both old and new. I hope to find those special pearls that, when implemented in our household, will make both our child happier and ourselves more sane.
I have heard so many pieces of wisdom I know are jewels, yet they don't work for us, with this particular kid. And other things that work so well, we are making up as we go. Still others didn't work at first, but gentle encouragement from an outside source leads to us trying again and finding it to be a lifesaver. And other things, I disregard immediately, because I know it is not the plan for our family. (It's time to begin to introduce formula supplementation into my breastmilk? Thanks but no thanks, Enfamil. And how did you get my email, anyway?)
Parenthood is a fascinating experience. Though there are certainly days where I am better able to appreciate it than others. Today is a good day. Tomorrow may be less so, because I am squandering valuable sleep time by taking baths and writing blog posts. But some nights, it's totally worth it - at least for me, in this particular moment. *grins*
