As an expectant mother, you’ve likely heard the advice, “Savor your sleep while you can.” Sure, as if you can stockpile sleep like some sort of energy reserve! Honestly, how can you get a full night’s rest when your 8-month-old baby is using your bladder as a trampoline?
Once your little one arrives, the classic line becomes, “Sleep when the baby sleeps.” Right. We’ve all heard it and rolled our eyes at it.
I entered motherhood fully aware that fatigue was part of the package. My partner, Max, and I anticipated the exhaustion that comes with caring for a newborn—and boy, did we feel it! Yet somehow, we muddled through it all. We had no clue what we were doing, but we managed to survive.
In those initial weeks, we navigated endless cycles of feeding, napping, and diaper changes. We even carved out moments for decent meals and showers. On occasion, we’d venture out for strolls around the neighborhood, which seemed to align perfectly with our baby’s unpredictable witching hours. Exhausted? Absolutely. But somehow, we still felt somewhat human.
When our son turned a month old, we threw a small gathering at our home, and to my surprise, several guests commented, “Wow, you look great! You actually seem well-rested.” And why did I appear so vibrant? Because caring for a newborn is a walk in the park compared to the whirlwind that is chasing after a 6-month-old who has just figured out how to crawl.
A few weeks before Christmas, while I was on the floor wrapping gifts, our little one was enjoying tummy time. Suddenly, he pushed himself up onto his hands and knees for the first time. I paused my wrapping and exchanged a knowing glance with Max. Something monumental was about to happen.
Then, he inched forward. Hold on… is he actually moving? Before we knew it, he was scooting across the carpet, attacking a roll of wrapping paper. Christmas turned into a never-ending cycle of sweeping up pine needles, relocating ornaments, and rewrapping gifts.
After a few weeks of his army crawl, he discovered the stairs. I thought I had the kitchen safe while preparing dinner, but I was sorely mistaken. I watched as he placed one hand on the first step, then the other. What on earth? I sprinted over just as he lifted his butt off the ground and pulled himself up. It was a wild scene as he climbed the entire flight of stairs without pausing. At the landing, he crawled to the front door and banged on it—one of his favorite pastimes for months to come.
This milestone sent Max and me into a mini panic. With the newfound ability to crawl and ascend stairs, he also began pulling himself up on everything—couch, coffee table, my pants, the brick fireplace. Inevitably, tumbles followed, resulting in a custom-made cushion for the fireplace and foam edging on every sharp corner.
Before long, his belly crawl transformed into an all-out hands-and-knees race. He was everywhere: up the stairs, down the hall, scaling the coffee table, unraveling toilet paper, and even flushing the toilet (bathroom doors are now permanently closed). He’d grab the edge of the dining room table as if he were prepping for chin-ups, and try to dive headfirst into his bouncer. The little guy was a whirlwind, transitioning from the coffee table to the end table to the pack ‘n play in no time flat.
Now, I’m tired. No, I was already tired when we brought him home from the hospital. Now? I’m utterly, completely exhausted. And it looks like he’s on the brink of walking!
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In summary, the journey of parenthood is filled with unexpected challenges and delightful chaos that can leave you feeling more tired than ever. But amidst the exhaustion, there are moments of joy and laughter that make it all worthwhile.