First Time Motherhood: The Good, the Bad, and the Crazy

When I was pregnant, I was so sick of hearing from other mothers in that condescending tone, "Ah, you're about to be a mother. It is IMPOSSIBLE for you to even BEGIN to comprehend what it's like until you're holding that precious little bundle." Ick. Gag me. I was nauseated -- well, I was in general -- from the simpering tone and total know-it-all vibe these moms were emitting. I mean, give me a break, it isn't like they were the Virgin Mary. I believed it was completely possible for a soon-to-be mom or dad to imagine the feelings a baby would invoke. And during the excruciatingly long nine months of incubation I had developed quite an attachment to my son, thank you very much.

Then I had him. And darn it if all those Virgin Mary's weren't right. Though I hate to admit it and thus join the Virgin Mary Club, it is totally true: there is no way to describe the feeling of being a parent to a beautiful, innocent, amazing little baby. However, there are plenty of ways to discuss all the fun and fright that come as one experiences being a parent for the first time. I intend for this to be the first in a series of articles describing the trials and tribulations of first-time motherhood, and all the humorous bits along the way. I will give the whole point to all this in the beginning - I know, I know, I'm supposed to keep my audience in suspense. But I have never liked surprises, so here goes: if you can't keep your sense of humor through raising an infant, then you won't survive. It is an experience like none other, and often the only thing that gets me through -- other than chardonnay -- is laughing. In the end, if I couldn't laugh at how scared I get with every cough, every sneeze, ever scream and tear, I would be a bumbling basket case, and no good to my child, my husband, or myself.

My hope is that I can offer some humor, comfort and insight to other first time mothers. Despite what my mother and pediatrician keep telling me, I don't think it hurts to read what others are experiencing. I have found a significant lack of commentary out there from working mothers with infants, and I hope with this series I can feel better about my own situation, and help those other mothers out there who work feel good about themselves as well.

Gals, we are so hard on ourselves all the time, in a way that very few men can understand. We demand perfection from ourselves, whether it be in the parenting arena, career, marriage, appearance...I' m exhausted just from writing the list! We constantly beat ourselves up for our decisions. We never feel like what we do is enough. My suggestion to all of this is that since we have enough bruises from our own self-assault, let's not beat-up on each other. We need to support all mothers out there, whether they work or stay at home; are married or are single; are in a traditional family or non-traditional family setting; believe the same things we do or hold different beliefs. The last thing we need as women is to be against each other. So my articles will not be judgmental or even filled with certainty. I am just sharing my experiences in the hope that other mothers can feel some small comfort that they are not alone.

As the title of this article indicates, nothing can make you feel crazier and more helpless than being a mother. Every single day I am floored by the emotions my little eight and a half month son makes me experience. Please join me as I detail the highlights and lowlights of figuring this whole motherhood deal out! Keep an eye out for my next article in this series, "Your child's in daycare? Oh, how terrible!"