Bron, a mother with limited baby experience, initially lacked confidence in her motherhood journey. She coped by building a network of trusted professionals, friends, family, and fellow mummas. Adjusting to the new rhythm of her days and redefining productivity were also challenges. Bron advises new mums to remember they are not alone and that a supportive community exists. Both mum and baby are doing their best.
What is the most challenging part of your motherhood journey so far? and how did you cope with it?
I started my motherhood journey with very little experience being around babies. To be honest, I felt like I was the least qualified person to handle this new role, and I really lacked confidence in myself during those early months.
As a result, I often found myself searching the internet for guidance, but it was overwhelming trying to sift through all the information and determine what was trustworthy advice.
That’s when I realised the incredible power of building a network of trusted professionals, friends, family, and fellow mums. These are people who know me and my baby, and their advice has always been relevant and invaluable. This "village" has been, and continues to be, a true lifeline on this motherhood journey.
Adjusting to the new rhythm of my days since having a baby has also been quite a challenge. I use to take pride in being super productive, but with a baby, my usual daily to-do lists became impossible to accomplish.
Becoming a mum has encouraged me to really shift my perspective on how I define what a 'good day' is for me. Now there are days when the laundry piles up, emails go unanswered, and I end up running late for all my appointments.
The hours spent with my daughter napping peacefully in my arms during the day, or simply watching her explore new things — those moments are what I’m going to miss the most, especially when I’m no longer on parental leave. My old to-do list just doesn't hold the same importance anymore in the grand scheme of things.
What has been the most rewarding part of your motherhood journey so far? How has it impacted your life?
Oh, without a doubt, the most rewarding thing is witnessing my daughter's pure joy when she spots me if I have been away from her for any period of time. It's incredible! Her big cheeky grin has this magical power to make everything right in the world, and reassures me I must be doing something right.
What advice would you give to a new mum or wish someone had told you before you became a mum?
Just remember, you're not alone on this wild ride, and there's a whole community out there ready to support you every step of the way. Both you and your baby are doing the best you can. You've got this!