In some aspects I have become more anxious after becoming a mother, but in most aspects, I have become a momma-bear!
For example, if I saw a spider, pre-baby, I would curl up into a ball and call out for my husband to get it. If he wasn’t around, I’d escape to another room. Now, I worry about the spider getting to my baby, and I will have to get rid of it. I get goosebumps and scream and almost cry, but do I get the job done? Yes! Because, mommas, my fear may be great, but my love is greater!
In all seriousness, it’s really hard being a mom. It feels like the biggest part of my heart is living outside of my body, in the world for the rest of my life. It can make me feel vulnerable at times. I try to remember, we are all in this together, and to my strong community of mommies all over the world, I hope you share in my sentiments – I take solace in knowing people generally love children and are hard-wired to look after these little humans. I remember reading about this in “The Organized Mind” by Daniel Levitin. Children, as they say, are the messages we send into a future we ourselves will not see.
When out and about with the babe, we often have strangers come up to say hello, with big smiles and just pure warmth. I say hello to babies too! Sometimes, I wonder why it is we don’t do that to one another as adults without babies, but that’s a post for another time. As I was saying, people generally love babies! I know I am guilty of it too! It’s also one of my most favourite aspects of my job – the well baby visits!
Despite the increase in fears compared to pre-baby states, I feel like my love increased exponentially more.
I would love to read your thoughts and expressed sentiments, mommies!