It’s never the wrong time to do the right thing.
If only I had been told this as a new mother to a crying, colicky infant. I remember back to those never-ending days and nights. When time appeared to stand still and the clock mocked me with each ticking second. When the dull ache of breastfeeding was numbed by the overwhelming tiredness and sense of monotony as the weekdays all blended together.
Often the right thing is really difficult to find, especially when you are not looking for it. If you don’t have the energy to even look after yourself properly in those first few foggy weeks with a newborn it can be difficult to find your way out of the quicksand of motherhood. But trust me, as you become stronger, finding the right thing will become easier. As a new mother, you will learn to listen to your instinct more and you will get through this.
You will choose what you think is the right thing, not what others tell you. You will choose how to feed your baby, when to wean and how to dress them. You will decide on cloth or convenience nappies. Homemade or shop bought food. Routine led days or carefree ones. IPad time or story time. You will make the important decisions early on in your child’s life that will help to shape the adult they will evolve into.
If it doesn't feel right to you, then listen to your heart. There is never a wrong time to do the right thing. Maybe you thought you would take extra unpaid leave after your maternity leave, but now secretly are hoping to return earlier, just to grab a little bit of ‘me time’ back. Maybe you have tried the local playgroup, but don’t feel comfortable there. Maybe you have chosen your childcare options, but have had second thoughts.
Being a parent means listening to yourself. Finding the right thing to do amongst the chaos of daily life is not easy, But if we sit still and ask ourselves the question the answer is often hiding in plain sight. It is an important lesson to teach our children that nothing is forever and things can and will differ over time.
Don’t be afraid to admit you have changed your mind, don’t be afraid to acknowledge something isn’t working. Don’t be too caught up in your day to day to stop and ask for help. It is never the wrong time to do the right thing. And you and only you alone will know what the right thing truly is.
