Ten lessons I’ve learned since becoming a mum

Happy parent, happy child

Yes, our life becomes primarily focused on our child, their happiness and wellbeing – we naturally put ourselves beneath them on the priorities list, but it is also important to make time for ourselves to do something we enjoy when and where possible. Ultimately, if we are happy and relaxed it will make us a better parent.

Expect the unexpected

No matter how unprepared we feel when encountering the unexpected on a daily basis, there is nothing we could have done to avoid it. Every child is unique, it’s nature, and whilst there may be some tricks that tend to work, there are no guarantees and there is no way to predict every single eventually.

Try not to worry

Particularly with a first child we tend to obsess about their every move, every mouthful and every breath. I’ve learnt after a lot of worry, concern and fraught times that these things seem to work themselves out in the end. Yes, there will be situations that require attention – but refer to your favourite excellent parenting website and note that we are by no means the only ones with such concerns – do yourself a favour and take the pressure off!

Find a balance

Motherhood is a blessing, something to be enjoyed. Of course there are times when it can be incredibly stressful but if it regularly feels more of a chore than a passion – things need to be reassessed. I believe there is always a way to re-balance and I think it is critical to find as much enjoyment as possible in the children but also for ourselves.

if it regularly feels more of a chore than a passion – things need to be reassessed

Fell the love

We can’t ever quantify the amount of love we feel for these little people, not until we experience it first hand. It’s impossible to imagine the incredible intensity before becoming a parent, how utterly wonderful and terrifying at the same time.

Think your advice through carefully

There is a fine line between educating our offspring on the multitude of dangers in the world (roads, travel, strangers, war, nasty people etc.) for safety and scaring them to the point they are robbed of the joy of innocence. Think your advice through carefully.

My mother was a saint!

We live in a far more advanced society with more technology, information, gadgets and a wealth of assistance to help us that our mothers didn’t have. I’m not going to list them all – the list is almost endless – but take online shopping as a simple starting point. I’ve learnt, only now, to appreciate, probably not even fully, just how amazing my mother was bringing up my brother and I.

Learn from your little ones

As babies become toddlers and toddlers become young children, there is a lot that we can in fact learn from them.

What our children want

I believe that the one thing our child wants from us most of all is our time and our full attention.

Take time out to just ‘be’

We should never underestimate the pleasure and warmth that comes from giving our children undivided attention – it’s amazing what we observe in those moments, most likely the memories that stay with us the longest. Take time out to just ‘be’.

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By author and happiness coach Natalie Savvides. Natalie’s book Full Circle is is available to buy from Amazon for £8.99.