Welcome to Hell.
Posted
April 1, 2008 at
7:31 pm by
Maureen
Dear Friend Who Just Had Her First Baby:
Welcome to parenthood! It’s a bitch, but I already warned you about that one, didn’t I?
Oh, that’s right…you didn’t listen.
You refused to believe my prognostications about stocking up on coffee, wine and Valium to get through the first six weeks.
You were convinced you’d be a “natural” mom and your child would be an “angel baby.” Well, after our conversation last night discussing why your baby wouldn’t stop “fucking crying” (your words), let me be the first to say, “TOLD. YOU. SO.”
Seven weeks ago, you brushed off any suggestions or tips I so eagerly offered. You waved your hand when I shared my coping mechanisms for quieting a child with colic. I believe your eyes may have even rolled your eyes when I told you about the wonders of a swaddle blanket, white noise machine and swing.
I offered you a canteen of water before you even set foot in the desert, which you refused. Now, gasping for breath and dying of thirst, you beg me for a drop to drink.
I wasn’t sure if it would come to this. Especially when your child was two days old and you said, “He just loves to sleep! He only woke up once to eat last night!”
I began to secretly question my experience as a mother: “Did I just end up with a really crabby kid? Why isn’t her child screaming his head off like mine did for eight weeks straight?”
Then, last night. Your phone call.
Your baby finally woke out of his “newborn daze” and announced his presence to the world with two solid hours of crying.
Welcome to hell. Look around, get used to the surroundings. You’re going to be here for awhile. It’s OK though, you’ll have lots of company. It’s like a sorority. A sorority of pain.
Just because I’m nice, I’ll give you one last tip: Hit up the local liquor store and join their wine club. We earned so many points during our son’s first few months, we’re now platinum members and receive a gift certificate every month. (Which really, really helps once you move into Teething Hell.)
Sincerely,
Your Friend Who Actually Knows A Few Things
Tags: alcohol, alcohol-as-a-coping-mechanism, babies, colic, new-parents, newborn, swaddle-blankets, swaddling |
3 Responses to “Welcome to Hell.”
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1. Kris said:
April 2, 2008 @ 10:45 am
I most certainly did not roll my eyes when I was told about swaddling and the magical swing. No white machine noise, though. That probably would have sent me over the edge, more than the wailing. The previous two saved my butt as far as getting her to calm down.
Hooray for those swinging machines.
2. Tracy said:
April 2, 2008 @ 1:06 pm
Oh, I just fell in love with you!
3. Rita said:
April 2, 2008 @ 1:15 pm
But, it lasts such a short time. Really, in the whole scheme of things, that newborn baby demand is so small. I actually loved those first few weeks (with my second and third, the first was just scary). They are so tiny and it is so precious and they grow so fast. I know, you’re sleep deprived and you feel like you’ve just been dropped in the middle of someone else’s life already in progress right now, but try, really try to enjoy it, because it will be gone forever before you know it.