This is a poignant day for those who’ve served in our military, armed forces and for their families particularly those no longer with us, Remembrance Sunday is a good time to reflect on our freedom and how we have what we have today. In order to make progress, there needs to be sacrifice and new experiences to be had, as you go into unknown territory, it is exactly the same for new parents.
You never know what kind of baby you are going to be blessed with. This can be exciting as well as nerve-racking, we all like an element of surprise in our lives but tend to hold back and shy away when things feel scary or too complicated. If faced with a war you have little choice when you are in the firing zone, you seek cover and hideaway to protect yourself, it can feel much the same when you are left holding a crying baby, you have such a lot going round in your mind.
How can such a small person evoke so much emotion and turmoil when things are not going well?
We all have this notion that we will know what to do with our own child and it’s innate within us. Until you have looked after a new infant, I believe it is akin to being in a war, you won’t know. It can change you in inconceivable ways, touch on emotions that you never knew you had, bring out a love that you’ve never experienced before and almost at the same time, parenthood can turn you into a nervous wreck when your efforts are not giving the expected response.
The overwhelming love for your child can often switch to resentment and blame that this is not what you signed up for or dreamt of, this is when you question your own mind, as exhaustion takes over your life.
Mental illness and sleep issues have become ‘the norm’ these days, it is more acceptable to discuss these matters, however, there is still so much shame around admitting your true feelings. Anyone who has been sleep deprived for months on end or even a few weeks will tell you they don’t ‘feel themselves’, you do things you wouldn’t normally do, make mistakes, waste money on things you don’t really need unable to make a rational decision and worst of all; take things out on your family and loved ones.
Sleep deprivation was a form of torture in the war, used to weaken one’s resolve, nowadays parents have so much more choice when bringing up a baby and help available. There may be a cost involved but when leaving sleepless nights with your child to chance, you are weakening your position and leaving you and your child at risk of developing mental health issues and depression.
If you would like to find out more about improving sleep in your family, let’s have a call, visit www.sanitynanny.com or send DM.