Tales from Mamahood

Graeme and his Auntie Dawn

This past week we experienced our first big fever and cold situation with Graeme, the timing was a bummer as Shawn's sister came into town to visit at the onset of it all. The good news is that she's a pediatric nurse and it was such a comfort to have her here. Not only did she act as nurse/auntie, but she just whizzed around our house helping out with everything and anything possible. I think I may have underestimated the value of help and support.

Lucky for me, my husband is a super star at showing up for us – but in the meantime I may have been holding onto the idea that we have to be strong or have it "going on" (what does that even mean) in the parenthood department. It sure SEEMED to me like everyone else does! I sometimes get it in my head that all the other mamas know the "rules" about everything and I am the only one totally winging it. I tell myself, you should have read more baby books while you were pregnant! The only book I read in it's entirety was Anne Lamott's Operating Instructions. I paged through What to Expect When You Are Expecting, but days before giving birth, I was (re)reading May Sarton's Journal of a Solitude. I think I may have broken a rule or two there, May is absolutely worth it and so am I.

Graeme had his first swimming lesson a few weeks ago. I felt concerned about getting him bathed right away afterwards because of the chlorine, that there must be a "process" that I didn't know about. I texted a friend who has a 1 year old and she was so casual about it (I was SO relieved!). She said something like, "We usually just give her a bath at the end of the day and that's fine with us. We are all winging it, just like you."

I have many mama heroes that I am SO grateful for - their wisdom, courage in being vulnerable and sense of humor have helped me so much in my journey as a new mama. One of those women is the amazing Andrea Scher over at Superhero Life. She keeps it real, she empowers others to follow the fun, and she recently wrote this beautiful article for Postpartum Progress on Needing More Help Than You Think Deserve. Really, really good.