Alex und Mel

Babyhood

A lot of parents are complaining about how difficult "babyhood" is, and how many struggle (if not - almost gave up) with the feelings of guilt when they feel like they need a break from their babies.

But then, what if what they really need is a break from babyhood? If babyhood was defined by 12-hours nights, super predictable nap schedules, regular eating times, independent play, and slowly progressing mental development rather than painful leaps, then we would probably never want a break from our babies!

But then again, babyhood is completely different, a complete opposite! A really unpredictable, challenging, and exhausting—mentally, physically, emotionally, and even spiritually—one! And I have a feeling that’s what PARENTS need a break from!

Likewise, some parents sometimes feel like they even hate their babies, when perhaps what they hate is "babyhood”.

Some of my friends had to deal with this guilty feelings, and felt like they were terrible parents because they hated their babies sometimes. While I couldn’t blame them for feeling hatred, I reflected with their about how, perhaps, they hated babyhood—the non-stop crying, the constant clinginess, the struggles to get their baby to eat, sleep, dressed, and even diapered.

And true enough, it didn’t take long for them to realise that was it; they loves their young ones, but man, do they hate babyhood!!

"In raising my Children, I have lost my mind but found my soul."

-Unknown